In the cold season, in our climatic conditions there are often colds. Almost everyone is familiar with this pathology. After hypothermia, or even seemingly without cause, a sore throat, runny nose, headache, and symptoms of intoxication appear. Soon, an increase in temperature joins, often a cough. It seems to be not a particularly serious disease, but you have to change your plans and be treated at home for several days. Just about the features of the treatment of such a pathology will be discussed in this article.
Trying to get rid of the disease as soon as possible, many begin to take various drugs - antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotics. Despite such intensive treatment, improvement does not occur, the disease is delayed. Why is this happening?
The thing is that colds are usually caused by a viral infection. Viruses are a special form of organisms, they are not able to multiply by division. For reproduction, viruses must invade the cells of the body and only after that a sharp increase in their number occurs, which is manifested by the clinical picture of the disease. It must also be remembered that a viral infection, the treatment of which is insufficient, is insidious in that it is often complicated by the development of bacterial inflammation. The addition of a bacterial infection leads to a delay in the disease, requires the appointment of other medications.
Treatment of viral infection has its own characteristics. Many are accustomed to use antibiotics for colds, but these drugs have absolutely no effect on viruses. Moreover, the use of such potent drugs does not give any effect, but even, on the contrary, delays the course of the disease, leads to the development of complications in the form of allergies.
A logical question arises: what should be the treatment of viral infection? At the first symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to start taking antiviral drugs. There are a sufficient number of such drugs in pharmacies now. These are such funds as Arbidol, Amizon, Remantadin and others. It is even better to start the prophylactic administration of this group of drugs during epidemics of various acute respiratory viral infections and influenza.
It should be remembered that antipyretic drugs should be taken only if the temperature exceeds 38 C. At a temperature of 37-38 C, the body actively produces the substances necessary to fight viruses - antibodies and interferon. Therefore, treatment of a viral infection cannot be started with the use of antipyretic drugs, as this will lead to inhibition of the body's defenses. To enhance the activity of the immune system, mild immunostimulants and immunomodulators can be used.
Many viruses affect the vascular walls, causing an increase in bleeding, the appearance of a hemorrhagic rash on the skin. In this regard, vitamin C and rutin must be included in the complex treatment of viral infection.
In addition to taking pharmaceuticals, non-drug methods of treatment are of great importance. A patient with a viral infection should be on bed rest for several days. Food should be frequent, in small portions, easily digestible and high-calorie. It is recommended to increase the amount of fluid you drink. It is good to take various vitamin teas: with lemon, blackcurrant, raspberry, ginger. A simple effect is given by the simplest physiotherapeutic thermal procedures - mustard plasters, inhalations, foot baths.
Treatment of viral infection in children must begin immediately, as soon as the first symptoms of the disease appear. The onset of SARS in a child is manifested primarily by a change in behavior that every mother can easily notice. The child becomes lethargic, moody, drowsy. The use of antiviral therapy, begun in a timely manner, will shorten the duration of the disease and prevent the development of complications.