With the onset of spring, the number of patients with acute respiratory diseases increases . Why exactly in this period of the year? It's simple: the humidity rises, and humid air cools quickly and people with poor health suffer the most.
Symptoms of ARI usually appear only on the second day after infection, but there are types of infection that “nest” in the body for up to five days and only then make themselves felt. ARI in each proceeds in its own way, the course of the disease depends on human health and age. Older people, as a rule, suffer the disease worse. It should be noted that there are four forms of the development of the disease: mild, moderate, severe and the most undesirable form - hypertoxic. Symptoms of acute respiratory infections depend on the form of the disease.
Most often, symptoms begin with the appearance of a headache. The patient feels weak for several hours. After a while, a sore throat appears, the body temperature rises, sometimes the patient is shivering. If the disease develops further, a dry cough appears (it occurs in connection with the defeat of the trachea, which is accompanied by pain in the chest area). A similar period can last up to three days, if it is longer, the disease is more severe.
Then a “wet” cough appears, it is accompanied by an abundant separation of mucus, the eyes are tearing, the patient is sweating, he has a bad cold, weakness and malaise. In this case, bed rest is required. If complications do not occur, similar symptoms of acute respiratory infections can last for five days.
If we talk about general symptoms, then we can distinguish the following:
- increased body temperature (38 ° C and above);
- general weakness, headache, and malaise;
- sore throat.
In some severe cases, the symptoms of acute respiratory infections in adults are manifested as follows: the stomach begins to hurt greatly, the patient begins to have diarrhea and nausea, sometimes vomiting. Very often, such symptoms are confusing and sometimes the patient is given the wrong diagnosis, linking it to diseases of the digestive system.
ARI often leads to diseases such as pharyngitis, bronchitis, laryngitis. With pharyngitis, the patient coughs, feels a sore throat. Laryngitis is characterized by inflammation of the larynx, in which there is a strong paroxysmal cough. Bronchitis is a serious disease that occurs due to inflammation of the bronchi. In addition to coughing, wheezing is heard in the patient’s chest. If all these diseases are not cured in time, pneumonia (pneumonia ) can develop, which is not so easy to cure.
There is still a disease like SARS. In principle, this is practically the same as ARI, the only difference is that ARI is a broader concept, ARVI is its sub-item. Symptoms of ARI and SARS are similar: lethargy, fever, tearing, sore throat, cough.
It is not worth starting the treatment yourself, it is better to consult a doctor, because only a specialist will be able to correctly diagnose the diagnosis on which the treatment depends. In extreme cases, if it is not possible to go to the doctor, contact him by phone and consult, describe in detail what symptoms you have with acute respiratory infections.
To protect yourself from acute respiratory infections, watch your diet, especially in the spring. Do not try to get rid of heavy winter clothes with the first appearance of the spring sun, the weather during this period is deceptive. The diet should be fully balanced for all micro-macrocells, as well as vitamins, especially vitamin C, which helps strengthen the immune system, must be present in the diet. In the spring, try to avoid particularly crowded places. It’s good if you always have a gauze mask with you.