Pneumonia is an infectious-inflammatory process in the lungs with damage to the alveoli. It occurs after an acute respiratory viral infection, or it can appear without symptoms of acute respiratory viral infection or flu.

If pneumonia is caused by bacteria, most often pneumococci, then it begins with vivid symptoms: the patient will have a high temperature - 39-40 degrees, cough, chest pain. In this case, the person immediately feels unwell, his blood pressure drops, and he may experience shortness of breath and respiratory failure. If pneumonia is caused by a virus, and it can be an adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus and parainfluenza virus, then the disease can begin with symptoms of ARVI.

Viral pneumonia, if it is not the flu, has a more gradual course: a person may not have a high temperature, the cough appears gradually, chest pain also does not appear immediately, but there is general weakness and malaise. Pneumonia can also be caused by fungi, mainly in people with immunodeficiency, or intracellular pathogens - mycoplasmas. The latter provoke atypical pneumonia.

Does pneumonia manifest itself in the same way in adults and children?

How pneumonia manifests itself depends on the person’s immune status. In people with immunodeficiency, pneumonia is more severe and the symptoms are not obvious.

A child does not have the same cough reflex as an adult, so in the case of children with pneumonia, they immediately begin to experience respiratory failure, shortness of breath, retraction of the chest when inhaling, there may be blue or pale nasolabial triangle and high fever. Children with pneumonia may not immediately develop a cough.

In an adult, all reflexes are well developed. However, now there are also atypical pneumonias, when there is no cough and nothing bothers the person at all. Such pneumonia is detected during fluorography. Doctors notice a darkening in the image of the lungs and begin to further examine and treat the person.

Older people also have a milder course of pneumonia due to the body's smaller immune response. Their cough may not be as pronounced, and their temperature may also be low.

How can you get pneumonia?

Pneumonia is most often contracted through airborne droplets. For example, someone who is sick with pneumonia sneezed - and we inhaled this aerosol through the nose or mouth. At the same time, a person who himself does not even know that he is sick can become a source of infection with pneumonia.

Whether a person gets pneumonia or not depends on whether his immune system is weakened and how much virus or bacteria he inhaled. If the amount of virus or bacteria is large, then there is a high probability of getting sick. If it’s small, then the body can cope with viruses and bacteria on its own, because we have reflex defense mechanisms - sneezing and coughing. And we can use them to drive a virus or bacteria out of the body at the initial stage.

How is it diagnosed in the clinic?

To detect pneumonia, a person has a chest x-ray. You also need to take a general blood test and see if the ESR, leukocytes are increased, and if there is a shift in the leukocyte formula (increase in band neutrophils). In a biochemical blood test for pneumonia, the level of C-reactive protein increases. If the ESR is not greatly increased, there is slight leukocytosis, but there is no cough or shortness of breath, normal blood pressure, then this is most likely not pneumonia or its atypical course.

In case of pneumonia, in case of complications, there may be changes in the general urine test: the number of leukocytes will increase and the protein level will increase.

Should pneumonia always be treated in a hospital or can it be treated at home?

Pneumonia is treated both in the hospital and on an outpatient basis - it all depends on the severity of the disease. There are major and minor criteria for pneumonia. If the patient has at least one of the major criteria, then the person is sent to the hospital. Major criteria are respiratory failure and the need for artificial ventilation, an increase in lung damage by more than 50% in two days, septic shock, and acute renal failure. In any case, pregnant women and people with severe concomitant diseases are hospitalized.

If there are two minor criteria, the patient is also indicated for hospital treatment. Minor criteria are a respiratory rate of more than 30 breaths per minute, impaired consciousness, arterial blood oxygen saturation less than 90%, rapid pulse, upper pressure number below 90 mmHg, bilateral or multifocal lung damage. It is very important for the doctor in the clinic to pay attention to the patient’s breathing rate and blood pressure.

How is pneumonia treated?

Pneumonia is treated with antibiotics. Of course, it is best to do a sputum culture and find out exactly what pathogens are causing the disease and what antibiotic they will respond to. But the problem is that you can wait a week for the culture result, but the person needs to be treated now, because with pneumonia, every day counts. Therefore, pneumonia begins to be treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. If a person does not feel better within three days, the antibiotics are changed.

How long does it take to get pneumonia?

Pneumonia usually lasts for a week to two weeks. After recovery, there may still be residual effects in the lungs, and the outbreak itself can take up to two months to resolve.

Why is it dangerous to carry pneumonia on your feet?

If pneumonia is not treated, a person may experience complications. For example, a focus of suppuration will appear in the lungs - an abscess, and inflammation can also spread to the pleura and pleurisy will begin. Pneumonia can cause respiratory failure, meningitis, endocarditis, glomerulonephritis (kidney disease associated with damage to the glomeruli), and in an advanced state it can be fatal. Around the world, about 15% of children with pneumonia die under the age of five.

Whether pneumonia will lead to death depends on the state of the person’s immune system, how severe it is and whether therapy is started in a timely manner. Due to pneumonia, there are also such serious complications as sepsis and septic shock, when blood poisoning occurs, there may be disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, when dissonance between coagulation and liquefaction begins in the blood, and a person dies because blood clots appear in all organs or hemorrhages.

Is it possible to get vaccinated against it?

The most common pathogens of pneumonia are pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, and mycoplasma. There are vaccinations against pneumococcus and Haemophilus influenzae. Both children and adults can be vaccinated. Children, depending on age, receive two or three vaccinations, adults - one. An annual flu shot is also considered a kind of prevention of pneumonia, because it is also caused by influenza.

Vaccination against pneumococcal and hemophilus influenzae infections, funded from the state budget, is given to people at risk: patients with immunodeficiencies, children who are often sick, and everyone who is registered with a dispensary for serious chronic diseases. Others can do it for a fee.

During vaccination, a person should not have infectious diseases; all chronic diseases should be in remission. Before the procedure, the doctor must examine the person and measure his body temperature.

How to avoid getting pneumonia?

Breastfeeding provides maternal immunity to children, so it is important to breastfeed for at least a year. Then children get sick less and they are protected from many infections.

To avoid getting pneumonia, it is important to constantly wash your hands after you return home from the street, and to rinse your nose with saline solution after visiting crowded places. You also need to avoid hypothermia, dress appropriately for the weather, frequently wet clean the house, ventilate the room, quit smoking and do not abuse alcohol. Systematic consumption of alcohol in large doses reduces immunity.

It is sometimes difficult to differentiate between acute respiratory viral infection and pneumonia (inflammatory lung disease). There are undoubtedly similarities in the clinical symptoms of pneumonia and ARVI. But with a more detailed examination, laboratory tests and physical examination, it is possible to make the correct diagnosis.

The clinical symptoms of ARVI and pneumonia are similar, and therefore it is important to distinguish them

Pneumonia as a complication of ARVI occurs in approximately 5-10% of cases. More often, an acute infection of the respiratory tract spreads to organs close to the respiratory system: ear (otitis media), sinuses (sinusitis and sinusitis), eyes (conjunctivitis).

Lungs of a healthy person and lungs affected by pneumonia

Pneumonia after ARVI does not show symptoms immediately. There are several alarm bells that suggest damage to the lower respiratory tract: a persistent cough with sputum, constant weakness throughout the body, intractable fever, ineffectiveness of antiviral drugs.

Options for the development of events for two diseases:

• Full recovery. After some time after adequate treatment, symptoms decrease and the person feels better. But it should be remembered that this is the so-called clinical recovery. Restoration of cells and tissues lost from inflammation does not occur or does not occur in full.
• ARVI after pneumonia in a child occurs against the background of temporary immunodeficiency after intensive antibacterial treatment. Antibiotics kill not only harmful microorganisms, but also beneficial flora in the intestines, which are responsible for maintaining immunity;
• Pneumonia after ARVI is a more typical complication. Viruses “prepare the ground” for bacterial infection: they increase the permeability of cell membranes, promote tissue swelling, and reduce the rate of development of the immune response;
• Spread of infection- pleurisy, pyothorax (pus in the chest cavity), sepsis.

Pyothorax is one of the complications of ARVI and pneumonia

How antibiotics make it difficult to distinguish ARVI from pneumonia

With the beginning of the era of antibiotics in the middle of the last century, there was a lot of hope: it was finally possible to overcome the infection and significantly reduce the number of deaths! But it turned out to be difficult. Firstly, it turned out that antibiotics do not work on viruses. Therefore, over the next three decades, we had to look for an alternative - to develop antiviral drugs based on interferon. Secondly, after a certain time has passed since the beginning of the use of antibiotics in clinical practice, it turned out that microorganisms become resistant to them. It does this by “rewiring” the genetic material of bacteria so that they synthesize proteins against antibiotics. For example, staphylococci and E. coli have “learned” to produce penicillinase, an enzyme that destroys drugs of the penicillin group.

As a result of the described negative factors, it was necessary to improve the structure of the molecule of drugs against bacteria. But this cannot be done indefinitely - microbes still adapt to changing conditions and chemicals.

Reasons for decreased sensitivity to antibiotics in bacteria

1. mutations in DNA. They arise under the influence of unfavorable environmental conditions. Bacteria, like people, can get used to any environment.
2. uncontrolled use of drugs. Since antibiotics can be bought at any pharmacy without a prescription, people have begun to self-medicate. For example, frightened parents who do not know how to distinguish pneumonia from ARVI in a child, after reading near-medical literature, buy this or that drug. And in 99% of cases they make the wrong choice, using the “wrong” antibiotic to cure the disease. Not only is a lot of money spent on a medicine that does not produce the desired effect. Often people, realizing that the drug does not help, and also because of their absent-mindedness and illiteracy, do not complete the course of taking the drug or arbitrarily reduce the dosage. The required concentration of the drug is not achieved in the tissues - the bacteria begin to adapt to non-lethal dosages of the active substance - resistance to the drug appears.
3. appointment on a “just in case” basis. Some doctors prescribe antibiotics for the slightest infection. Motivation: a bacterial infection will still occur, it must be prevented. The trouble is that antibiotics make the clinical picture of any disease “blurred” and atypical. Because of this, for example, it is not clear how to distinguish pneumonia from ARVI, but the treatment of these two pathologies is fundamentally different.

You cannot self-medicate!

The worst thing is not even the emergence of resistance to one or another antibiotic in humans. It is dangerous that in case of severe infections (sepsis, purulent complications), the drug could help, but resistance to it has already developed. Therefore, there are now a lot of antibacterial agents, but in the case of dangerous infections, it is not a fact that they will save you from death.

Due to antibiotic resistance, doctors are forced to prescribe other, stronger drugs, which are very toxic and lead to permanent impairment of body functions.

To avoid disastrous consequences from taking antibiotics, you should follow simple rules.

• For ARVI - no antibiotics! They can be used only after the addition of a secondary bacterial infection (for example, mucopurulent bronchitis). But if the sputum comes off well and the pus is normally evacuated from the body, you can do without antibacterial drugs.
• Use antibiotics only as prescribed by a doctor. Self-medication is unacceptable!
• Strictly follow the dosages and instructions for the drug.

Antibiotics are taken only as prescribed by a doctor

By following these rules, you will not have to face the consequences.

Since chills, high fever, cough, and increased fatigue are symptoms characteristic of both pneumonia and influenza, pneumonia is often mistaken for influenza. Therefore, people mistakenly diagnose themselves with the flu where it does not exist. According to WHO, pneumonia causes 15% of deaths among children under 5 years of age worldwide. 920,136 children under 5 years of age died from pneumonia in 2015, reports the press service of the Social Health Insurance Fund.

According to the director of the capital branch of the FSMS N. Kabdykaparov, to prevent any disease it is necessary to regularly undergo medical examinations as part of outpatient care and receive preventive vaccinations against influenza. All these measures are included in the guaranteed volume of free medical care. In total, 13,074 people were treated for pneumonia in Astana over the 11 months of this year.

What is pneumonia

Pneumonia or pneumonia is an acute infectious disease during which the lower respiratory tract (bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli) becomes inflamed. Pneumonia can be caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi. Bacterial pneumonia can develop after an upper respiratory tract infection. In about half of cases, the causative agent of pneumonia is a virus. People often get sick with viral pneumonia in winter, and it is not as acute as bacterial pneumonia. A complicated form of pneumonia can lead to inflammation of the pleura, pulmonary edema, lung abscess, and respiratory failure.

Symptoms of pneumonia

Symptoms of pneumonia are usually similar to those of the flu or cold. They can appear either acutely or gradually. With pneumonia, there is a constant cough, mostly wet with greenish sputum, chest pain, chills, weakness, fever that cannot be brought down with paracetomol-containing drugs, shortness of breath, bluish skin, in particular lips and nails, muscle pain and headaches.

Who gets pneumonia more often?

People over 65 years of age suffer from pneumonia more often than younger people. Also at risk are pregnant women, children, adolescents, and adults with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, or liver disease. And also people suffering from immune deficiency, alcohol abusers, and smokers.

Treatment of pneumonia

Based on the results of a chest x-ray, blood and sputum tests, if a bacterial or fungal infection is detected, antibacterial therapy is prescribed. In severe cases, hospitalization is recommended for the patient. It is important to remember that any medications should be taken only after consultation with a specialized specialist.

Prevention of pneumonia

The seasonal flu shot provides good protection for the body. It must be remembered that a healthy lifestyle, physical activity and a balanced diet can strengthen the body's defenses so that it is able to fight the pathogens of pneumonia. You must always keep your hands clean. You should always wash your hands with soap, especially after coughing or sneezing, and treat them with products containing alcohol. Giving up bad habits will increase your chances of recovery. It is known that alcohol significantly reduces immunity, which means it makes it vulnerable to numerous viruses and bacteria.

Editor

Doctor, forensic expert

The most common diseases of the respiratory system are acute respiratory viral infections (including influenza) and pneumonia (pneumonia). These diseases are completely different in appearance, but are not always distinguishable by clinical manifestations.

is an inflammatory process in the lung tissue with a predominant lesion of the respiratory parts of the lung. Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) are a group of diseases that have a similar morphological and clinical picture, with damage to the upper respiratory tract of the catarrhal type.

In this article we will delve deeper into the fundamental differences between these diseases.

The mechanism of development of the common cold

A cold is a general hypothermia of the body, after which a disease develops (most often ARVI). In medical practice, the term “cold” means ordinary hypothermia, however, in everyday life it is used as a designation for the disease itself.

Attention! The cold itself is not the cause of the development of the disease, it only creates the preconditions for its development.

So how can a decrease in body temperature lead to the development of the disease? In this case, the body includes a protective mechanism that is aimed at heating the “core”. The last one is all internal organs, the temperature in them is always higher and is about 37 o C. A spasm of the peripheral vessels of the skin and oral cavity occurs, which in turn prevents the entry of immune cells there with the blood flow.

This leads to a weakening of the body's defenses and is manifested by increased susceptibility to infections. In addition, due to temperature stress, cortisone levels increase, which suppresses the activity of the body's immune system.

Constant temperature is necessary to ensure all chemical and biological reactions occurring in the body.

When its values ​​are normal, immune cells capture the infectious agent and die along with it, preventing its spread. During hypothermia, these processes are disrupted.

Temperature is also important for bacteria and viruses themselves. It has been proven that at low temperatures their outer shell hardens, which helps to increase their stability in the environment and better distribution.

It should always be remembered that diseases are caused by bacteria and viruses, not colds, and if they do not enter the body during cooling, then the disease will not occur.

Most often, colds cause the development of the disease in the autumn-winter period. This also has a rationale: people spend more time at home and in other poorly ventilated areas where there is a large concentration of microorganisms. Another significant factor is low air humidity, which causes dryness of the nasal mucosa, which reduces the protective properties.

ARVI

As mentioned earlier, ARVI is not a specific disease, but includes a group of similar pathologies. It is impossible to distinguish them without special laboratory tests, and since they all have the same course and treatment, this is not necessary. That's why they were combined into a group.

ARVI ranks first in the structure of global morbidity. All people have suffered from these diseases at least once in their lives, and many suffer from them several times a year. Due to their mild course, many people do not seek medical help and treat themselves, for this reason it is impossible to fully calculate the incidence. Children in the first year of life practically do not suffer from these diseases, this is due to their passive immunization with mother's milk. But children from one to seven years old get sick most often (up to 10 times a year).

You can become infected from a sick person at the end of the incubation period and throughout the febrile period. The most common way of spreading infection is through airborne droplets. Sometimes it can be transmitted by contact, directly through direct contact (kiss, handshake) or through household items.

The cause of the disease is microorganisms. These are mainly viruses that have a very high index of contagiousness (infectiousness). These include:

• rhinoviruses;
• adenoviruses;
• influenza and parainfluenza;
• reoviruses and many others.

Clinical manifestations may resemble the initial stage of pneumonia. ARVI is characterized by a pronounced catarrhal syndrome:

• temperature rise to subfebrile levels (37 o C);
• headache;
• weakness;
• Pain in the eyes;
• cough;
• sore throat;
• runny nose;
• sneeze.

Attention! Treatment with antibiotics is absolutely pointless, since it has no effect on viruses.

You can use interferon drugs that have a detrimental effect on the pathogen. But most often only symptomatic therapy is used. It includes combination drugs of analgesics and antipyretics that relieve fever and pain.

Flu

Influenza is an acute inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory tract, which is caused by the influenza virus. It is included in the group of acute respiratory viral infections and occupies a special place in it.

The flu virus is incredibly contagious, which is why it spreads very quickly and causes pandemics. This pathogen affects all age groups without exception.

Once in the body, the virus penetrates the cells of the mucous membrane, destroying them, which in turn leads to the formation of reactions such as coughing, sneezing, and nasal congestion. The virus then enters the blood and causes viremia, which has toxic effects and manifests itself as intoxication syndrome. It leads to increased permeability of the vascular wall, which leads to edema, hemorrhage and other vascular phenomena.

Influenza occurs primarily in the trachea (tracheitis). A characteristic feature is pronounced intoxication, which appears from the first days of the disease and continues throughout the acute period.

The disease begins gradually with an increase in temperature from subfebrile to hyperpyretic numbers (37-40 o C). It is accompanied by weakness, myalgia, and headaches.

Catarrhal symptoms are mild, a runny nose is not typical, and dryness in the nose is more pronounced. A dry cough appears, causing chest pain.

If the course is favorable, the symptoms begin to subside after 3-4 days. But the flu leads to a significant weakening of the body, which creates favorable conditions for the addition of a secondary infection. Most often, bacterial pneumonia develops against its background.

Influenza is very difficult to differentiate from other acute respiratory viral infections, especially with an atypical course. This can only be done with a special virological study, which takes a lot of time. But distinguishing influenza from other acute respiratory viral infections is very important, since it has specific drugs for treatment (oseltamivir, rimantadine, zanamivir). Vaccination against influenza significantly reduces the incidence and alleviates the course of the disease.

Vaccination must be carried out no later than 2 weeks before the expected epidemic, otherwise the effectiveness is controversial.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an inflammatory process of the lungs. The cause of its occurrence is most often bacteria, the leader of which is certainly pneumococcus. It accounts for about 95% of community-acquired pneumonia. In the structure, the first place belongs to Staphylococcus aureus.

The pathogenesis of pneumonia is based on damage to the blood-alveolar barrier, which leads to increased vascular permeability and exudation of plasma and blood cells into the alveolar cavity. This process takes place in, which ends in the cleansing of the lungs through the separation of sputum.

very similar to ARVI, especially when it is mild. Many people suffer from the disease “on their feet”, confusing it with ARVI. In this case, pneumonia is diagnosed retrogradely, during an X-ray examination for another reason. Classic pneumonia begins acutely and is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• severe fever (38-39 o C);
• lethargy, fatigue, weakness;
• myalgia, headaches, dizziness;
• chest pain;
• dry cough, after 3-4 days it is replaced by a productive one.

Antibiotics are the etiotropic therapy for pneumonia, which kill bacteria that cause inflammation. In addition, a large number of symptomatic drugs are used (NSAIDs, immunostimulants, and other drugs).

How to distinguish diseases?

Despite all their similarities, these diseases have a number of distinctive features by which they can be recognized. Let's look at the differences in a convenient table:

Sign	Pneumonia	ARVI
prodromal period	inconspicuous	pronounced, lasts about a day
onset of illness	gradual	fast, with increasing temperature
cough	appears from the first days, first dry and then wet	appears later, dry
runny nose	not typical	abundant
conjunctivitis	not visible	common symptom
fever	38-40°C	37-38°C
breath	weakened	normal, sometimes harsh
chest pain	with the development of pleurisy	No
sputum	at first absent, and then in large quantities	little or no
dyspnea	There is	No
general state	severe or moderate	often satisfactory
intoxication	strongly expressed	moderate
blood analysis	leukocytosis with a shift to the left, increased ESR	more often normal or minor changes
radiograph	focus of infiltration (usually in the lower lobe)	norm
use of antibiotics	necessary and effective	not required

Conclusion

ARVI is a very common disease; it is not only similar in course to pneumonia, but can also be complicated by it. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor for quality diagnosis and treatment. To prevent the occurrence of these diseases, it is necessary to follow all recommendations and lead a healthy lifestyle.

It is quite difficult to distinguish between influenza, ARVI, and pneumonia in our time. Thanks to the emergence of various drugs on the market, viruses and bacteria are constantly mutating and becoming more resistant.

They are similar in manifestations, which complicates diagnosis and selection of the correct treatment. But every disease needs to be treated differently. As a result, it is extremely important to understand the difference between influenza, ARVI and pneumonia. After all, often ignoring symptoms, people do not consult a doctor, while a life-threatening disease develops.

What is ARVI?

ARVI is an acute respiratory viral infection that affects the respiratory system. The cause of the disease is a virus that spreads very quickly through airborne droplets (coughing, sneezing), through direct contact with a patient (shaking hands) or through common household items and food.

With ARVI, the patient is bothered by a runny nose, nasal congestion, and cough. Complications such as sinusitis and tonsillitis may develop. The disease begins quickly, body temperature rises to 37.5 - 38.5 degrees, in addition, the following symptoms are possible:

• Sore throat or sore throat (usually begins in parallel with a cough).
• Increased fatigue, weakness.
• Insomnia (in case of high temperature).
• Headaches (do not always occur - usually with an increase in temperature and complications in the form of sinusitis or tonsillitis).
• Sometimes the lymph nodes become enlarged.

The causes of ARVI can be pathogens:

• Influenza or parainfluenza viruses.
• Adenoviruses.
• Reoviruses.
• Rhinoviruses.

It is important to remember: treating ARVI with antibiotics has no effect (since they do not affect the virus).

Differences between influenza and ARVI

Flu and ARVI are often confused with each other, and although these diseases are related, they still have differences, including symptomatic ones. First of all, it is worth understanding that influenza is one of the acute respiratory viral infections, but its cause is the influenza or parainfluenza virus, while ARVI can be caused by more than two hundred types of viruses.

In addition, influenza and ARVI (which is caused by other viruses) differ in symptoms. In the first case, the disease develops rapidly, sharply (several hours after infection) a high temperature of 38-40 degrees rises, which lasts for several days and can be difficult to control with medications.

But it is worth noting that in some cases, the flu begins without a fever.

Influenza spreads quickly and, like ARVI, is transmitted by airborne droplets. In addition to the sudden development of the disease and high temperature, which is difficult to bring down, as a rule, the following symptoms occur:

• Aches in the body (there is a feeling that the bones are aching).
• Ear congestion.
• A runny nose may appear (mainly in people who have chronic diseases of the nasal cavity). Nasal congestion in this case disappears quickly (in a couple of days).
• The cough does not begin to bother you immediately, but appears after some time, and a transition from dry to wet is possible.
• Possible problems with the digestive system - nausea, diarrhea.
• Strong headache.
• Chills (quite severe).
• Redness of the eyes, possible fear of light.

Let's look at how to distinguish ARVI and influenza in the table.

	ARVI	Flu
How does the disease begin?	Gradually, symptoms increase over a couple of days.	Sharply, symptoms bother you after a few hours.
Body temperature	It may be low for several days (stays at 37-37.5), possibly increasing to 38. It is easily reduced with the help of antipyretics.	It immediately rises to 38-40 degrees. It’s difficult to reduce, even medications don’t help.
General health	Feeling of weakness, fatigue, weakness.	You feel body aches, chills, pain in muscles and joints, and stuffy ears.
Nasal congestion	Nasal congestion, sneezing, and swelling of the mucous membranes are a concern throughout the entire illness.	A runny nose with the flu does not last long, and not everyone gets it. Sneezing with the flu is usually not a concern.
Headache	Occur rarely (only in case of complications).	Arise immediately (strong).
Disruption of the gastrointestinal tract	As a rule, there are no stomach problems; manifestations are extremely rare.	There may be nausea and stomach upset.
Cough	Dry, lasts throughout the illness	It does not appear immediately, it starts with dry and turns into wet.
Insomnia	Appears only in case of high temperature.	It is typical and may bother you throughout the entire illness and after (another 2-3 weeks).
Sore throat	Almost immediately a sore throat and sore throat begins.	They may appear after a few days, but are not always a concern.

Stability of ARVI and influenza viruses in the environment and the impact of disinfectants on them

ARVI viruses in a room can remain infectious for up to seven days, but over time their activity decreases (that is, at the end of the week it will be minimal).

The survivability of the virus is affected by the temperature and humidity of the air, on what surface it is located and its stability in the external environment. For example, you can become infected with respiratory syncytial virus within 6 hours if you had lunch at the table where the sick person ate. On paper, the virus remains active for up to 45 minutes, on skin - about 20 minutes.

But the influenza virus on a hard surface will become harmless only after 2 days, on a fabric surface - after 12 hours. It is worth noting that banknotes can be contagious for up to 17 days, so it is very important to practice good hygiene and frequently wash your hands with soap.

It is also worth remembering: the lower the air humidity in the apartment, the more stable the virus, so it is recommended to carry out regular wet cleaning and air the room (every 2-3 hours, for 20 minutes). These actions will help reduce the concentration of influenza virus in the air by up to 80 percent.

Symptoms of pneumonia and differences from ARVI

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs that occurs due to bacteria (most often pneumococcus - 95 percent of cases), viruses, and fungi. Dangerous post-influenza pneumonia is also common, which can cause death. Therefore, it is important to receive complete treatment and avoid complications. If you notice that after the flu you feel tired, have lost your appetite, are bothered by a cough and shortness of breath - then you should immediately consult a doctor, because there is a possibility of dangerous complications.

Pneumonia begins more gradually compared to ARVI and influenza, but the symptoms are similar. Let's look at the differences between the diseases.

• With pneumonia, a high temperature of 38-40 degrees is possible, but there are cases when the values ​​are lower.
• Constant weakness.
• Chills (quite severe).
• Pain in the chest area when coughing (not typical for ARVI).
• Cough (initially without sputum, then sputum production begins in large quantities). With ARVI, as a rule, there is no sputum or there is sputum in small quantities.
• Weakened breathing, shortness of breath (uncharacteristic of ARVI).
• A runny nose does not bother you during pneumonia, but during ARVI it is always present and abundant.

For pneumonia, treatment with antibiotics is necessary, while for ARVI, it has no effect.

If any symptoms appear, we recommend that you consult a doctor, as delay can be dangerous to your health.