ARVI is ... Acute respiratory viral infection: prevention, treatment

Acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) is a disease that affects the human respiratory system. The main cause of the disease is contact with viruses. The path of transmission of viruses is airborne.

Prevalence of ARVI

Disease of ARVI is widespread everywhere, especially in kindergartens and schools, work collectives. Increased risk of infection have young children, the elderly and people with a weakened immune system.

The source of infection is the infected person. High susceptibility of people to viruses leads to a rapid spread of the disease, the epidemic of ARVI is quite frequent in the whole world. Untimely treatment of the disease can lead to various complications.

Outbreaks of respiratory-viral infections occur all year round, but the ARVI epidemic is more often observed in autumn and winter, especially in the absence of quality prevention and quarantine measures to identify cases of infection.

Causes of ARVI

The cause of the development of the disease is respiratory viruses, which differ in a short incubation period and rapid spread. The source of the infection is a sick person.

The virus of ARVI is afraid of disinfectants, ultraviolet rays.

The mechanism of development

Getting into the body through the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract or conjunctiva of the eyes, the viruses, penetrating into the epithelial cells, begin to multiply and destroy them. In places where viruses are introduced, inflammation occurs.

Through the damaged vessels, getting into the bloodstream, viruses are carried throughout the body. In this case, the body secretes protective substances, manifestations of which are signs of intoxication. If immunity is weakened, it is possible to attach a bacterial infection.

Symptomatics

All respiratory-viral diseases have similar symptoms. At the beginning of the disease a person has a runny nose, sneezing, pershit in the throat, body aches, the temperature rises, appetite disappears, a loose stool appears.

Symptoms of acute respiratory viral infection in a child can develop at a lightning speed. Quickly increases intoxication, the baby is shivering, vomiting, pronounced hyperthermia. Treatment should be started immediately to avoid possible complications.

Signs of individual viral infections

Determine parainfluenza can be on mucous discharge from the nose, the appearance of a dry "barking" cough, hoarseness of the voice. The temperature does not exceed 38 ° C.

Adenovirus infection is accompanied by conjunctivitis. In addition, the patient may experience rhinitis, laryngitis, tracheitis.

With rhinovirus infection , the symptoms of intoxication are pronounced, the temperature may not rise. The disease is accompanied by abundant mucous discharge from the nose.

For respiratory syncytial viral infection, not pronounced catarrhal symptoms or bronchitis, strong intoxication are characteristic. Body temperature remains normal.

What is the difference between the flu and ARVI?

ARVI begins gradually, the development of the flu is rapid, a person can even indicate the time when he felt ill.

In acute respiratory viral infections, body temperature rises slightly, no higher than 38.5 C. The flu is characterized by a sharp increase in temperature to 39-40 C. The temperature in this case is maintained for three to four days.

In acute respiratory infections, the symptoms of intoxication are practically absent, the person is not shivering and does not throw in sweat, there is no severe headache, eye pain, photophobia, dizziness, body aches, working capacity remains.

With flu, a strong runny nose and nasal congestion are absent, this is the main symptom of ARVI. The disease is accompanied by a reddening of the throat, with a flu such a symptom is not always observed.

In ARVI cough, discomfort in the chest occur at the very beginning of the disease, may be mild or moderately pronounced. Flu is characterized by a painful cough and pain in the chest, which appear on the second day of the disease.

Sneezing is typical for the common cold, there is no such symptom in the flu, but there is redness in the eyes.

After a flu, a person can feel a weakness for two or three more weeks, a headache, quickly get tired, after SARS, such symptoms do not persist.

Knowledge of how the flu differs from ARVI will help a person to assess their condition and take the necessary measures in time to help quickly get rid of the disease and avoid complications.

What are the symptoms of ARVI should alert

Immediately, you need to see a doctor when the temperature rises to 40C⁰ or more, which does not get knocked out by febrifugal medications, in case of disturbances of consciousness, intense headache and impossibility to bend the neck, rashes on the body, shortness of breath, cough with colored sputum (especially with blood), Prolonged fever, swelling.

An appeal to a doctor is also necessary if the signs of acute respiratory infections do not disappear after 7-10 days. Symptoms of acute respiratory infections in the child require special attention. If any suspicious symptoms occur, you should immediately seek medical help.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is made by the attending physician after examining the nasopharynx and examining the symptoms. In some cases, complications may require additional research, for example, chest X-ray. This helps to eliminate pneumonia.

Complications

A frequent complication of ARVI is the attachment of a bacterial infection, which provokes the development of inflammatory processes: bronchitis, otitis, sinusitis, pneumonia. The disease can be complicated by the attachment of a urinary tract infection, pancreatitis, cholangitis.

If the disease occurs with pronounced intoxication, the result may be the development of convulsive or meningeal syndromes, myocarditis. Possible neurological problems, such as meningitis, neuritis, meningoencephalitis. After the transfer of acute respiratory viral infections, complications can manifest themselves exacerbation of chronic diseases.

In children, a frequent complication is a false croup.

To minimize the risk of complications, treatment should begin on time, performing all the doctor's prescriptions.

How to treat

Treatment mainly takes place at home. The patient should adhere to the semi-fast regime, follow the milk-vegetable vitamin-enriched diet, consume a lot of liquids to dilute sputum, stimulate sweating, reduce toxins.

But in a furious modern pace, few people follow this rule, preferring to tolerate a cold "on their feet", and relieve unpleasant symptoms with symptomatic means. The danger of this approach to treatment is that often symptomatic preparations for cold contain phenylephrine - a substance that increases blood pressure and causes the heart to work for wear. In order to avoid complications of colds, you need to choose medicines without components of this kind. For example, "Antigrippin" (better from "Natur-product") is a cold remedy without phenylephrine, which eliminates unpleasant symptoms of ARVI, without provoking an increase in pressure and without harming the heart muscle.

In the treatment of antiviral drugs, drugs to increase immunity, antipyretic, antihistamines, drugs that help to sputum, vitamins. Locally used vasoconstrictors, which prevent the reproduction of the virus on the mucosa of the nasopharynx. Such treatment is important to carry out at the initial stage of the disease.

Preparations for ARVI treatment

In the fight against the causative agent of the disease, antiviral drugs are effective: Remantadine, Amizon, Arbidol, Amiksin.

Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is necessary to reduce body temperature and reduce pain. Such medicines include "Paracetamol", "Ibuprofen", "Panadol". It must be remembered that the temperature below 38 ° C does not go astray, because at this temperature the body activates its protective forces.

Antihistamines are needed to reduce signs of inflammation: congestion of the nose, edema of the mucous. It is recommended to take "Loratidin", "Fenistila", "Zirteka". Unlike first-generation drugs, they do not cause drowsiness.

Nasal drops are necessary to reduce swelling, eliminate nasal congestion. It is worth remembering that it is not possible to use such drops for a long time, since this can provoke the development of chronic rhinitis. Drops are used no more than 7 days, 2-3 times per day. For long-term treatment it is possible to use preparations based on essential oils.

Remedies for sore throat. It is best in this case to help rinsing the throat with the use of disinfectant solutions. For these purposes, you can use sage, chamomile. Rinse often, every two hours. Effective use of disinfectant sprays - "Geksorala", "Bioparox", etc.

Cough medicines are needed to dilute sputum. This is helped by the use of "ATSTS", "Mukaltina", "Broncholitin", etc. It is important to use a lot of liquid while this also contributes to the dilution of sputum. The drugs that suppress the cough, without the appointment of a doctor, can not be used.

Antibiotics are not used in the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections, this is only necessary when attaching a bacterial infection.

In addition to medicines, the use of physiotherapy, inhalation, massage techniques, foot baths is effective.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies are very effective in treating ARVI. This can be a supplement to the basic treatment and helps to cope faster with the disease. You can use the following recipes.

Not bad helps infusion of fruits of viburnum and linden flowers, which must be crushed and mixed. Two tablespoons of the collection should be poured in 500 ml of boiling water, insist for an hour. The resulting infusion is consumed before going to sleep in a glass.

The onion and garlic can be cope well with the disease, which you can simply eat. Both in prophylaxis and in treatment, such a remedy is useful: several cloves of garlic and half a teaspoon of juice are consumed after a meal. You can arrange in the room cut onions and garlic and inhale their vapors.

Very effective remedy of honey and lemon juice. To make it, bee honey (100 g) is mixed with the juice of one lemon and diluted with boiled water (800 ml). The product must be drunk throughout the day.

Prevention

What is the prevention of ARVI in adults and children? To strengthen the defenses of the body you need to temper, lead an active lifestyle, walk in the fresh air, do not neglect rest, avoid stress, and also observe hygiene (wash hands, vegetables, regularly do wet cleaning in the room).

Prevention of Orvi in adults requires adherence to the correct diet. The menu should be dominated by natural products. To maintain the intestinal microflora and strengthen the immune system, dairy products are useful. In addition, the diet should be present fiber.

For the prevention, you can take antiviral drugs or get vaccinated. Although it is impossible to completely protect yourself with vaccination, as the viruses constantly mutate. Vaccination is recommended for children who attend kindergartens and schools, employees of medical institutions.

In the period of epidemics, it is recommended to limit visits to public places, to strengthen the immunity to take natural remedies or antiviral drugs at the recommended dosage.

If preventive measures have not helped you avoid infection, take care of your recovery, as well as the people around you. Since ARVI is contagious, do not forget to cover your mouth and nose, coughing and sneezing, airing the room, if necessary, wear a gauze bandage. If these measures are followed, the disease will quickly leave your home.