The causative agents of influenza and ARVI are transmitted from person to person by airborne droplets and are quite contagious (contagious).
With ARVI – acute respiratory viral infections
non-influenza aetiology the disease develops gradually, most often begins with fatigue and a runny nose, dry cough, which then becomes wet.
When the flu affects the vessels, therefore, bleeding of the gums and nasal mucosa is possible. After suffering the flu, the body becomes extremely susceptible to various infections, leading to severe infectious complications.
Especially severe acute respiratory viral infections and flu occur in young children, the elderly, people with chronic pathologies and diseases of the immune system.
The best protection against influenza is immunization. However, vaccination does not protect against other ARVI.
Strengthening the body contributes to proper nutrition. Include in the diet foods containing vitamins A, C, zinc and calcium: citrus fruits, kiwi, sweet peppers, dairy and dairy products, hard cheeses, boiled fish, beef carrots with sour cream, raisins or dried apricots, etc.
When planning a visit to public places, take a medical mask with you: if you sneeze and cough in a public place, close your mouth and nose with a medical mask or handkerchief – this will help prevent infection.
Any viral disease, transferred “on the feet”, may further lead to undesirable consequences and complications.
In addition, a sick person infects others.
Influenza is an infectious disease that anyone can get. The causative agent of influenza is a virus that from infected people into the nasopharynx of others.
Most people have the flu for only a few days
but some people get sick more seriously, possibly having a severe illness, even death.
With the flu, the existing chronic diseases become more acute; in addition, the flu has an extensive list of possible complications:
Pulmonary complications (pneumonia, bronchitis). Pneumonia is the cause of most deaths from influenza.
Complications of the upper respiratory tract and ENT organs (otitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, tracheitis).
Complications of the cardiovascular system (myocarditis, pericarditis).
Complications of the nervous system (meningitis, meningoencephalitis, encephalitis, neuralgia, polyradiculoneuritis).
To avoid possible complications, it is important to carry out the prevention of influenza in a timely manner and properly treat the disease itself.
Usually the flu starts suddenly. Influenza pathogens, viruses of types A and B, are distinguished by aggressiveness and exceptionally high reproduction rates, therefore, within hours after infection, the virus leads to deep lesions of the respiratory tract mucosa, opening up possibilities for bacteria to enter it.
Symptoms of flu include fever, temperature 37.5–39 ° C, headache, muscle or joint pain, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose or stuffy nose, pain and sore throat.
What to do if you have the flu?
At the first symptoms, the patient himself needs to stay at home, in order not only not to infect others, but also to start treatment in time, for which he should immediately consult a doctor. To prevent further spread of infection, the patient must be isolated.
from healthy people, it is desirable to allocate a separate room.
Important!
When flu is extremely important to comply with bed rest, since the disease increases the load on the cardiovascular, immune
and other body systems.
Self-medication for influenza is unacceptable, and it is the physician who must make the diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment according to the patient’s condition and age.
For proper treatment, it is necessary to strictly follow all recommendations of the attending physician and take medication in a timely manner. In addition, plenty of drink is recommended – it can be hot tea, cranberry or lingonberry juice, alkaline mineral water. Need to drink more often and as much as possible.
Important!
At a temperature of 38 – 39 ° C, call the district doctor to the house or the ambulance team.
When coughing and sneezing, the patient should cover the mouth and nose with a handkerchief or napkin.
The room where the patient is located should be regularly ventilated and wet cleaning should be done there as often as possible, preferably with the use of disinfectants acting on viruses.
Communication with the sick flu should be limited, and in the care of it, use a medical mask or gauze bandage.
How to protect yourself from the flu?
According to the position of the World Health Organization, the most effective means against influenza is vaccination, because it is the vaccine that provides protection against those types of influenza virus that are most relevant in this epidemiological season and are included in its composition.
The introduction of the vaccine into the body can not cause disease, but by the production of protective antibodies stimulates the immune system to recovery.