Influenza - Prevention, Symptoms, Treatment

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Flu

General characteristics of the disease

Influenza is one of the most common infectious diseases and belongs to the group of acute respiratory viral infections.

This disease is caused by influenza viruses, of which there are currently more than 2000 species. These viruses can spread in the form of epidemics, which rise, as a rule, in the autumn-winter period, and pandemics, which are recorded every 30-40 years. Many patients treat influenza quite dismissively, considering it a common "cold", while every year about 250-500 thousand people die from this disease in the world.

People of all ages are susceptible to the influenza virus, but this disease is most dangerous for the elderly, children, pregnant women, as well as people suffering from lung and heart diseases. The source of influenza is an already ill person who releases the virus into the environment through coughing, sneezing, etc. Having an aerosol transmission mechanism (inhalation of drops of mucus, saliva), the flu spreads quickly enough - the patient is a danger to others for a week, starting from the first hours of infection.

Flu symptoms

Influenza, the symptoms of which are not specific, is almost impossible to distinguish from other acute respiratory viral infections without special laboratory studies.

The diagnosis of "influenza" in practice is established mainly on the basis of the epidemic situation.

The disease begins, as a rule, acutely: the body temperature rises to 38-40 ⁰ С, chills, headache, aching pains in joints and muscles, weakness. Nasal discharge cannot be called a typical flu symptom, since this disease, on the contrary, is characterized by dryness in the nose and throat. In most cases, a tense dry cough occurs, which is accompanied by pain in the sternum. Examination of the patient may reveal more signs of influenza such as facial flushing, arterial hypotension, injection of sclera ("red eyes"), granularity and redness of the hard and soft palate, relative bradycardia.

Flu symptoms usually persist for 3 to 5 days, after which the patient recovers.

In a severe form of the disease, the most frequent complications are otitis media, sinusitis, pneumonia, however, the development of such consequences as cerebral edema, vascular collapse, hemorrhagic syndrome, secondary bacterial complications, exacerbation of chronic diseases is possible.

Flu treatment

For a long time, the treatment of influenza was only symptomatic and involved taking antipyretic, expectorant, antitussive drugs, vitamins, in particular large doses of ascorbic acid, as well as adhering to bed rest and drinking a sufficient amount of liquid. Today, symptomatic treatment of influenza has not lost its relevance, however, at the same time it has come to understand that, in addition to eliminating the symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to fight directly with its cause, that is, with the virus.

Medicines for influenza should be prescribed by a doctor, today it is effectively treated with antiviral drugs, provided that they are taken before the clinical manifestations of the disease.

Antiviral drugs such as Zanamivir and Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) are recommended to suppress the spread of the virus in the body, reduce the severity of symptoms, shorten the duration of illness, and reduce the incidence of secondary complications. These flu medicines are effective against many strains of influenza, but they should only be taken as directed and under medical supervision. To block proton pumps and prevent the penetration of the virus into cells, the drugs Rimantadine and Amantadine are used. Antiviral and immunostimulating properties are possessed by interferon preparations (Grippferon, Ingaron, Amisin) and interferon inducers (Kagocel, Cycloferon), however, self-treatment of influenza with these drugs is undesirable, the doctor should make a decision on the appropriateness of their intake.

Homeopathic medicines for influenza also have the right to exist, among which Oscillococcinum, which is an extract of the heart and liver of a musky duck, is widely popular. Although manufacturers of some animal-based or plant-derived products claim to be effective in treating and preventing influenza, there is generally no clinical evidence for these claims.

Prevention of influenza

The flu shot is the traditional way to prevent illness. Vaccination is most indicated for children, elderly children, patients with chronic diseases of the lungs and heart, doctors. Influenza vaccination involves the administration to a healthy person of a live, inactivated vaccine containing the antigens of usually three strains of the virus, selected on the basis of WHO recommendations.

Intranasal (nasal drops) administration of interferon (Nazoferon), which is advisable to use after close contact with infected people, can be called emergency prevention of influenza. Also, in direct contact with a patient from influenza infection, the use of a gauze bandage, the use of Remantadine or lubrication of the nasal passages with Oxolinic ointment can be prevented.

Non-specific prevention of influenza involves: airing the room, frequent hand washing with special products, wet cleaning with disinfectants, as well as disinfection of the air using ultraviolet radiation, catalytic cleaners, aerosol disinfectants. To maintain immunity that can resist the virus, it is necessary to include in the diet foods rich in vitamins, lactic acid bacteria, and also use honey, propolis, royal jelly.

Prevention of an influenza epidemic largely depends on the consciousness of an already ill person who needs to avoid public places with a large crowd of people, for which the patient, especially coughing and sneezing, poses a potential danger of infection.

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The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!