You caught a cold, but also received complications? And doctors diagnosed influenza? Quietly, this is not a cause for panic. Engaging in self-treatment is categorically not recommended, but knowing the basics of the disease and ability to take the first steps are just necessary!

So what is influenza?

Influenza is an infectious viral disease that causes damage of mucous membrane of respiratory tract and general poisoning of the organism. Epidemics of influenza occur every year, usually in winter (in tropics - in the period of weather change), and affect from 5 to 20% of world population. Influenza affects men, women and children around the world.

Influenza and ARD: What is the difference?

The term “acute respiratory disease (ARD) or acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) covers a large number of diseases, in many respects similar to each other. Their main similarity lies in the fact they are caused by viruses, penetrating into the body along with the air inhaled through the mouth and nasopharynx, as well as the fact they are all characterized by the same set of symptoms. A patient suffers from fever, sore throat, cough and headache for several days. Acute rhinitis (runny nose) is the most common respiratory disease, it is invoked by a number of related viruses known as rhinoviruses. While recovery, all these symptoms disappear and leave no traces. However, it is wrong to call all of ARD and ARVI flu.

Infection

Infection with influenza usually occurs through nasal mucosa, which accumulates viruses from the air. A sick man is the source of infection, but in some cases sick poultry or pigs also can be the source of the virus. The peak of influenza incidence comes on autumn-winter period. Pandemic flu is usually caused by type A virus provoking the most severe form of influenza. Epidemics of a local nature can be caused by type B virus. Type C virus is found only in rare cases, and causes very mild forms of influenza.

Influenza is a severe viral infection that affects men, women and children of all ages. Flu is accompanied by high mortality, especially in young children and elderly people.

Influenza is an infectious respiratory disease that tends to have epidemics starting in late fall and early winter. Each epidemic continues from 4 to 6 weeks in some areas.

If you have flu. Treatment

Treatment of influenza is usually spend at home, a patient must be isolated in a separate room, receive separate dish and towel. Family members must wear 4-layer gauze masks covering nose and mouth, masks should be ironed every 4 hours.

During the entire period of high temperature patients must comply with bed rest. Spicy condiments, canned food, meats should be excluded. Abundant drinking is of great importance during period of treatment: tea with raspberry, blueberry, honey, lemon, milk, mineral water, acidic fruit juices, fruit drinks - up to 3 liters per day.

Different inhalations, antipyretics, gargle disinfectant solutions, as well as thermal procedures are useful while treatment of influenza, but they should be prescribed by a doctor.

Antipyretics are used only when the body temperature reaches 38 degrees and above, for children - 37,5. Vasoconstrictors are used topically to alleviate nasal breathing - naftizin, nazivin, ksimelin, pinosol. Antitussives: mukaltin, pertussin, Tusuprex, Bromhexine, etc.

In extremely heavy hypertoxic forms of influenza, patients are treated in intensive care wards. These patients are injected influenza immunoglobulin, prescribed antistaphylococcal antibiotics.

If you miss timely flu treatment

At serious flu course there happen irreversible damages of cardiovascular system, respiratory system, central nervous system, provoking heart and vascular diseases, pneumonia, tracheobronchitis, meningoencephalitis.

Serious complications arising from the disease in young and very old people, those with weakened immune systems and chronic patients leads to a significantly higher morbidity and deaths. High infectivity and constant mutation of the virus lead to emergence of new subtypes of the virus, against which people have no immunity. For this reason, there are epidemic and pandemic diseases.

Make conclusions

Influenza is primarily a burning issue for world health, which people are increasingly trying to solve, especially in the West. Influenza is not just a disease, as most people probably think. This is a pressing economic problem, which somehow transfers into money, escaping from our wallets. This means lost time that could be devoted to important cases, not to mention the possibility of serious health problems.

Take care of yourself and your health, as well as health of your loved ones: redeem yourself from the flu!