Acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) is a disease that affects the human respiratory system. The main cause of the development of the disease is contact with viruses. The transmission of viruses is airborne.
ARVI prevalence
SARS disease is widespread, especially in kindergartens and schools, work collectives. Increased risk of infection are small children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
The source of infection is an infected person. High susceptibility of people to viruses leads to the rapid spread of the disease, the SARS epidemic is a fairly common occurrence throughout the world. Untimely treatment of the disease can lead to various complications.
Outbreaks of respiratory viral infections occur year-round, but the SARS epidemic is more likely to occur in autumn and winter, especially in the absence of quality prevention and quarantine measures to detect 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 infection is a sick person.
SARS virus is afraid of disinfectants, ultraviolet rays.
Development mechanism
Once in the body through the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract or the conjunctiva of the eyes, viruses, penetrating the epithelial cells, begin to multiply and destroy them. In places where viruses are introduced, inflammation occurs.
Through damaged vessels, getting into the bloodstream, viruses spread throughout the body. In this case, the body releases protective substances, the manifestation of which are signs of intoxication. If the immune system is weakened, the attachment of a bacterial infection is possible.
Symptomatology
All respiratory viral diseases have similar symptoms. At the beginning of the disease, a person develops a runny nose, sneezing, perspiration in the throat, aching the body, fever, appetite disappears, and loose stools appear.
Symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections in a child can develop at lightning speed. Intoxication is rapidly increasing, the baby is shivering, vomiting appears, hyperthermia is pronounced. Treatment should be started immediately to avoid possible complications.
Signs of individual viral infections
Parainfluenza can be determined by mucous discharge from the nose, the appearance of a dry "barking" cough, hoarseness of the voice. Temperature is not higher than 38 C⁰.
Adenovirus infection is accompanied by conjunctivitis. In addition, the patient may experience rhinitis, laryngitis, tracheitis.
With rhinovirus infection , symptoms of intoxication are pronounced, the temperature may not increase. The disease is accompanied by profuse mucous discharge from the nose.
Respiratory syncytial viral infection is characterized by not pronounced catarrhal symptoms or bronchitis, severe intoxication. Body temperature remains normal.
What is the difference between influenza and SARS?
SARS begins gradually, the development of influenza is rapid, a person can even indicate the time when he felt ill.
With SARS, body temperature rises slightly, not higher than 38.5 C⁰. The flu is characterized by a sharp increase in temperature to 39-40 C⁰. The temperature in this case persists for three to four days.
In acute respiratory viral infections, intoxication symptoms are practically absent, the person does not shiver and does not sweat, there is no severe headache, pain in the eyes, photophobia, dizziness, body aches, working capacity remains.
With influenza, a severe runny nose and nasal congestion are absent, this is the main symptom of SARS. The disease is accompanied by reddening of the throat, with flu, this symptom is not always observed.
With acute respiratory viral infections, cough, chest discomfort occur at the very beginning of the disease, can be mild or moderate. Influenza is characterized by a painful cough and chest pain that appear on the second day of the disease.
Sneezing is typical for colds, with the flu, such a symptom is not observed, but there is redness of the eyes.
After the flu, a person can still feel weakness, a headache for another two to three weeks, quickly get tired, after ARVI such symptoms do not persist.
Knowing how the flu differs from acute respiratory viral infections will help a person assess their condition and take the necessary measures in time, which will help to quickly get rid of the disease and avoid complications.
What symptoms with SARS should alert
You should immediately consult a doctor if the temperature rises to 40 ° C or more, which does not get off with antipyretic drugs, in case of impaired consciousness, intense headache and inability to bend the neck, rashes on the body, shortness of breath, cough with colored sputum (especially with an admixture of blood), prolonged fever, edema.
A visit to a doctor is also necessary if the signs of acute respiratory viral infections do not disappear after 7-10 days. Symptoms of ARVI in a child require special attention. If any suspicious signs occur, you must urgently seek medical help.
Diagnostics
The doctor makes a diagnosis after examining the nasopharynx and examining the symptoms. In some cases, if complications arise, additional studies may be needed, such as a chest x-ray. This helps rule out pneumonia.
Complications
A common complication of acute respiratory viral infections is the attachment of a bacterial infection, which provokes the development of inflammatory processes: bronchitis, otitis media, sinusitis, pneumonia. The disease can be complicated by the addition of a urinary tract infection, pancreatitis, cholangitis.
If the disease proceeds with pronounced intoxication, the result may be the development of convulsive or meningeal syndromes, myocarditis. Possible neurological problems, such as meningitis, neuritis, meningoencephalitis. After undergoing acute respiratory viral infections, complications can manifest themselves as an exacerbation of chronic diseases.
In children, false croup is a common complication.
To minimize the risk of complications, treatment should be started on time, performing all the doctor's prescriptions.
How to treat
The treatment mainly takes place at home. The patient should adhere to a half-bed regimen, follow a milk and vegetable fortified diet, consume plenty of fluids to thin out sputum, stimulate sweating, and reduce toxins.
But at a frantic modern pace, few follow this rule, preferring to endure a cold “on their feet”, and alleviate unpleasant symptoms with symptomatic means. The danger of this approach to treatment is that often symptomatic cold preparations contain phenylephrine, a substance that increases blood pressure and makes the heart work for wear. In order to avoid the complications of the common cold, you need to choose drugs without such components. For example, "AntiGrippin" (better from "Natur-product") is a cold medicine without phenylephrine, which eliminates the unpleasant symptoms of ARVI without provoking an increase in pressure and without harming the heart muscle.
Antiviral medications, drugs to increase immunity, antipyretic, antihistamines, drugs that help sputum discharge, vitamins are used in the treatment. Locally used vasoconstrictors that prevent the multiplication of the virus on the nasopharyngeal mucosa. Such treatment is important to carry out at the initial stage of the disease.
Drugs for the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections
In the fight against the causative agent of the disease, the use of antiviral agents is effective: Remantadina, Amizona, Arbidola, Amiksina.
The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is necessary to lower body temperature and reduce pain. Such drugs include Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Panadol. It must be remembered that a temperature below 38 ° C does not go astray, since at this temperature the body activates its defenses.
Antihistamines are needed to reduce the signs of inflammation: nasal congestion, swelling of the mucous membranes. Recommended intake of "Loratidine", "Fenistila", "Zirtek." Unlike first-generation drugs, they do not cause drowsiness.
Drops for the nose are necessary to reduce swelling, eliminate nasal congestion. It is worth remembering that such drops can not be used for a long time, as this can provoke the development of chronic rhinitis. Drops are used no more than 7 days, 2-3 times a day. For long-term treatment, you can use drugs based on essential oils.
Remedies for sore throat. Gargling with disinfectant solutions is best in this case. For these purposes, you can use sage, chamomile. Rinse often, every two hours. Effective use of disinfectant sprays - Hexoral, Bioparox, etc.
Cough medicine is needed to thin out sputum. The use of “ATSTS”, “Mukaltin”, “Broncholitin”, etc. helps in this. It is important to consume a lot of fluids, which also helps to thin the sputum. Drugs that suppress cough cannot be used without a doctor’s prescription.
Antibiotics are not used in the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections, this is only necessary when attaching a bacterial infection.
In addition to drugs, the use of physiotherapy, inhalation, massage techniques, foot baths is effective.
Folk remedies
Folk remedies are very effective in the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections. This can be in addition to the main treatment and helps to cope with the disease faster. You can use the following recipes.
An infusion of viburnum fruits and linden flowers, which must be chopped and mixed, helps a lot. Two tablespoons of the collection you need to pour 500 ml of boiling water, insist for an hour. The resulting infusion is used before bedtime in a glass.
Onions and garlic, which you can just eat, cope well with the disease. Both in prevention 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 put the chopped onions and garlic in the room and inhale their vapors.
Very effective remedy from honey and lemon juice. To prepare it, bee honey (100 g) is mixed with the juice of one lemon and diluted with boiled water (800 ml). The resulting product must be drunk throughout the day.
Prevention
What is the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections in adults and children? To strengthen the body's defenses, you need to temper, lead an active lifestyle, walk in the fresh air, do not neglect rest, avoid stress, and observe hygiene (wash hands, vegetables, regularly do wet cleaning in the room).
Prevention of ARVI in adults requires the observance of a proper diet. The menu should be dominated by natural products. Sour-milk products are useful for maintaining intestinal microflora and strengthening immunity. In addition, fiber should be present in the diet.
For prevention, you can take antiviral drugs or get vaccinated. Although it is impossible to completely protect yourself with vaccination, since viruses constantly mutate. Vaccination is recommended for children who attend kindergartens and schools, employees of medical institutions.
During epidemics, it is recommended to limit visits to public places, to strengthen immunity, take natural remedies or antiviral drugs at the recommended dosage.
If preventive measures have not helped you avoid getting infected, 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, ventilate the room, and if necessary, wear a gauze bandage. If these measures are followed, the disease will quickly leave your home.