Viral infection is perhaps the most common disease. Bursts of activity of this ailment occur in the autumn-winter period. Moreover, both adults and children are equally susceptible to the disease. In this article, I will describe the treatment, transmission routes, and the main symptoms of a viral infection.
general information
ARVI is a disease that affects primarily the respiratory system. The causative agents of the disease are unstable in the environment. They die quickly enough when exposed to ultraviolet radiation, drying, and the use of disinfectants. The source of transmission of the disease is a sick person. Symptoms of a viral infection are rather unpleasant. To get rid of them, a person needs a special regime and care. The disease is transmitted by contact-household or airborne droplets.
Viral infection. Treatment and symptoms
As a rule, ARVI begins acutely. The patient has a sharp increase in temperature to 39 degrees. In the early days of the disease, symptoms of intoxication develop: a decrease in appetite, adynamia, headache, weakness, etc. Then there may be discharge from the nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, pharyngitis, hyperemia of the posterior pharyngeal wall and pharynx, tonsillitis. Often there is a cough (dry or with sputum), hoarseness, redness of the eyes. Similar signs have a viral infection in children.
Symptoms of the disease in infants are often characterized by a manifestation of fever.
Treatment
The patient is assigned to bed rest. As a rule, treatment is carried out at home. With this disease, it is recommended to adhere to a light dairy and vegetable diet rich in vitamins, and to consume warm drink in large quantities. It can be fruit drinks, juices, tea with lemon. To minimize the unpleasant symptoms of a viral infection, the doctor prescribes vasoconstrictor drops in the nose, antitussive drugs (licorice root, Mukaltin, Bromhexin medicines), antihistamines (Suprastin, Tavegil, Claritin medicines), and also multivitamins and ascorbic acid. Antiviral drugs are usually used to fight the pathogen. However, they must be taken no later than forty-eight hours from the onset of the disease.
If there is a repeated increase in temperature (after lowering) or any complications, antibiotic therapy should be started. However, in this case, treatment should be done in a hospital setting. To bring down the temperature to 38.5 degrees is not recommended. And this applies to both children and adults. Up to this point, the body itself activates the defenses and fights the disease. Interferon preparations (drops, suppositories, tablets) are very useful for babies. They, strengthening the body's immune forces, help to quickly defeat the unpleasant symptoms of a viral infection.
Prevention
To prevent the disease, it is necessary to get vaccinated. Prevention of the fight against viruses should be to improve the body, strengthen immunity. For this, hardening and physical education, as well as eating foods rich in vitamins, are very useful.