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How to treat viral diseases. Treating ARVI at home is quick and effective. Incorrect treatment of ARVI

If you feel slightly unwell and your body temperature has risen, most likely you have become infected with ARVI. It is the most pathogenic, therefore it is often the cause of hyperthermia and can lead to the development bacterial infection and associated complications (sinusitis or pneumonia may develop), which are difficult to cure. Therefore, it is important to take appropriate measures immediately. Let's look at the forms and symptoms of this disease and look for a way to get rid of it as soon as possible.

Forms

Acute respiratory viral infections unite a large group of similar diseases with the same type of symptoms and predominant damage to the mucous membranes respiratory tract, nose and paranasal sinuses. It includes:

  • parainfluenza

Symptoms

Characteristics of a cold:

How to recover quickly?

Doctors warn: there is no panacea that can cure the ailment in a few days. If a person catches an infection, it will take some time to produce special cells that will stop its reproduction in the body and destroy it. The patient’s task is to help the body speed up the process.

If you suspect yourself, you need to call a doctor and take a sick leave in order to comply with bed rest.

You cannot go to work to avoid complications and infect others. Exactly this important condition effective and short-term treatment!

Next, the patient should be kept at rest. The body signals that it is time to take a break and lie down. Sometimes a few days of quiet time are enough to completely get rid of a mild cold.

If you expect a quick cure, drink more fluids, preferably alkaline water like Borjomi. Viruses are afraid acidic environment. Choose still water. Drink plenty of fluids promotes rapid removal from the body of toxins formed by viral activity. In addition to still water, you should drink fruit drinks, rosehip infusion, and tea with lemon.

Severe malaise, chills, and a temperature above 38 degrees indicate infectious intoxication. Then a proven folk remedy will come to the rescue - tea with raspberries. It is absolutely harmless, therefore it is recommended for everyone, even expectant mothers and small children. Making tea is simple: you need to dilute a few teaspoons of jam into a glass of freshly brewed tea. To prepare a drink from dried raspberries, pour a cup of boiling water over a spoonful of the fruit and let it brew for about a quarter of an hour. What other herbs and plants are needed, read.

How to prevent the development of ARVI at an early stage?

It is believed that for disease prevention loading dose must be taken ascorbic acid. In the first three days you need to take 1000 mg several times a day. Then reduce the dose by 2 times.

Some doctors consider such a measure useless, others are completely justified. In any case, there is no harm in taking vitamin C!

For get well soon Doctors recommend taking hot foot baths. They are made simply: in a container with hot water you need to add 30 grams. mustard powder. Scientists have noticed a connection between biologically active points feet and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, because the foot is a powerful reflexogenic area human body. That is why a person instantly gets sick when his feet get wet. To help the patient, it is necessary to ventilate the room where he is located well. Clean and cool air. The room where the patient is located should be kept at high humidity. Dry air helps dry out mucus, while on the contrary it is necessary to ensure its natural outflow.

If possible, purchase a humidifier. Otherwise, replace it with hanging wet sheets or place a bowl of water next to the bed. You can alleviate your condition with the help of remedies that you probably have at home. You can drip salt water into your nose by first dissolving half a teaspoon of salt in 1 tablespoon of heated boiled water. This will allow the mucus to move away and the mucous membrane to remain moist.

Burying vasoconstrictor drops Helps prevent sinusitis and relieve swelling.

Uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictor drops can lead to chronic rhinitis and constant nasal congestion.

Especially for a runny nose and sore throat.

Important! Inhalations should be done only with a break of 1-1.5 hours.

Gargling with infusions will help get rid of a sore throat. medicinal herbs, for example, sage or chamomile. It is also good to gargle with baking soda. The main thing is to do it often. It is useful to massage the chest, back and neck (the area above the shoulder blades). It is also recommended to do inhalations with the addition of a few drops fir oil per one manipulation.

Remember! Small children should not do such inhalations!

What will the doctor prescribe?

He will probably prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or paracetamol. They will help relieve pain and reduce body temperature.

There is no need to try to reduce the temperature at the very beginning of the disease. With its help, the body fights the development and reproduction of viruses. But this does not apply to small children and patients with convulsive syndrome!

The doctor may also prescribe antiallergic drugs that have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. They will help you cope with swelling of the mucous membranes and nasal congestion. Antihistamines new generation do not cause drowsiness. If you are tormented, the doctor will prescribe you the appropriate remedies that will help you cope with it. The main goal of cough treatment is to make the sputum thin enough so that the patient can cough it up.

If expectoration is difficult, you can use special drugs- such as mucaltin, ACC and broncholitin.

Remember! Drinking warm liquids thins mucus, so drinking plenty of fluids will make coughing easier!

There is no need to self-medicate and self-prescribe medications that reduce the cough reflex, because this can lead to dangerous consequences.

You should not prescribe yourself antibiotics!

Antibacterial drugs are prescribed only in case of complications caused by bacteria. Antibiotics are useless against viruses. In addition, they can harm the body. Uncontrolled use can lead to the emergence of resistant bacteria.

Antiviral drugs - benefits and harms

Drug treatment of acute viral infection without complications usually involves symptomatic therapy, that is, in relieving symptoms (as mentioned above). practically unproven. Arbidol is used in the treatment of ARVI only in the post-Soviet space.

Full-fledged clinical trials has not been conducted on this remedy. Judging by the advertisement, you can quickly get rid of ARVI by using Viferon rectal suppositories. In fact, the substance only works when administered parenterally (by injection or inhalation), and it also has numerous side effects. Others similar to it - Cycloferon or Thymogen - also have few clinical trials, so it is advisable not to use them in the treatment of children. Remantadine and Tamiflu have been proven to be effective, but they are used only to fight the flu.

The respiratory system (also called the external respiration system) has a complex structure; it is necessary for gas exchange between inhaled air and blood circulating in the circulatory circle, which begins in the right ventricle of the heart and ends in the middle sections of the left atrium. Main organs respiratory system are the nasal cavity (nasolacrimal duct), tracheal tube, lungs, bronchi, bronchioles and diaphragm. If the mucous membranes or parenchyma of the respiratory organs become inflamed, the patient experiences symptoms of intoxication, the temperature rises and signs characteristic of respiratory diseases appear.

The pathology of the respiratory system with the most favorable prognosis for recovery is ARVI. Acute viral infections can go away on their own within 5-7 days, but if the patient does not take any measures to combat the pathogen, complications may begin due to the primary infection, for example, bronchitis or pneumonia. Some go to the other extreme: they try to cure ARVI in 1 day, starting to take all the drugs in a row, which only leads to the subsidence of the infection, but does not contribute to the development of immunity. Patients should know that Even the most effective medications will not help cope with a viral infection in 1 day Therefore, it is necessary to approach treatment wisely.

ARVI can cause various groups viruses, but the most common are parainfluenza viruses, rhinoviruses and adenoviruses. In 90% of cases, infection occurs by airborne droplets during communication, but there are cases where the virus was transmitted to a healthy person through physical contact, for example, a handshake. The main risk group for the occurrence of ARVI includes preschool children of the younger age category - from 2 to 5 years. This is due to the fact that viruses spread very quickly in groups and are able to maintain their viability outside the human body from 16 to 72 hours.

Once in the body, the virus begins to actively multiply. On early stage it occurs in the nasopharynx or larynx. Lasts this period 1-2 days and is manifested by moderate sneezing, a slight sore throat and coughing. Hyperthermia on at this stage usually absent, so recognize the onset of the disease and take it in time necessary measures almost impossible.

From the nasopharynx or larynx, the pathogen enters the systemic circulation and causes acute intoxication And characteristic symptoms, which may include:

  • temperature rise to 38-38.5°C;
  • headache;
  • compression in the temporal zone (sometimes the pain spreads to the back of the head);
  • rhinitis (nasal runny, sneezing, congestion);
  • cough (for initial stage dry);
  • chills.

Muscle pain and joint aches are characteristic of influenza, but if ARVI is caused by parainfluenza viruses, a similar symptom may well be present in the general clinical picture diseases.

Important! The formation of an immune response occurs on the 4th-5th day of illness, so it is not possible to cure ARVI in 1 day, but you can significantly improve the patient’s condition and maintain working capacity if there is an urgent need for it.

Antiviral drugs

Medicines in this group are active against most strains of viruses and help cope with pathogens by destroying the protein membrane and stopping their vital activity. A significant disadvantage can be considered the weak activity of one’s own immune cells and insufficient production of immunoglobulins, which form immunity and prevent re-infection. For this reason, many countries have abandoned the use of these drugs and consider their use inappropriate, but if it is necessary to quickly improve the patient’s condition, they should form the basis of treatment. Listed below are the most popular antiviral medications, as well as how to use them for ARVI.

Enough effective drug for the treatment of viral diseases of various etiologies, which contains umifenovir. The product is available in the form of tablets, capsules and powder, suitable for treating children from the age of three. Also effective in treating rotavirus infection, herpes, chronic bronchitis and pneumonia.

The product should be taken before meals with a glass of boiled water. The dosage depends on the age of the patient and can range from 1 to 4 tablets, which should be taken 4 times a day. The recommended duration of treatment is 5 days, but in some cases more may be required. long-term use- up to 10 days. Pregnant women can be prescribed Arbidol treatment from the 16th week of gestation. average cost— 135-170 rubles.

A fairly expensive drug (the cost of a package can reach up to 1,490 rubles) from the group homeopathic remedies. It has a targeted effect against influenza viruses and other respiratory infections. Can be used to treat children (including infants of the first year of life), as well as pregnant and lactating women without dosage adjustment.

The standard dosage is 1 dose once daily sublingually. The drug must be placed under the tongue and wait until the tube is completely dissolved. This should be done 15 minutes before meals. For children, the contents of the tube are diluted with water or formula.

On a note! To quickly achieve therapeutic effect in the first three days, the dosage can be increased to 2 doses per day (morning and evening).

These medications are considered the most gentle. They promote the development of your own immunity and help cope with the symptoms of ARVI in 2-3 days. At early start treatment, positive dynamics will be noticeable after the first day of treatment.

Drugs in this group include:

  • "Genferon";
  • "Viferon";
  • "Gerpferon";

These medications come in the form rectal suppositories, tablets and ointments for local and nasal use.

Table. Cost of antiviral drugs.

Drinking regime: what to drink to recover quickly?

Drinking during ARVI should be plentiful- this will help restore enough level moisturizing the mucous membranes, accelerating the elimination of toxins from the systemic bloodstream and reducing the manifestations of intoxication. For a sore throat, it is better to give the patient a warm drink. It is strictly forbidden to give hot drinks, as they can lead to injury to the inflamed mucous membrane and increased pain.

Drinks that will help you quickly cope with the signs of ARVI and improve the patient’s well-being are listed below.


At early symptoms ARVI is also good to drink warm milk with the addition of a small amount butter and spoons of honey. This drink helps relieve inflammation, relieve pain and improve sputum discharge. If the patient has no diseases digestive tract And internal bleeding history, treatment can be supplemented ginger tea, since he is rightfully considered the best folk remedy from viral diseases of the respiratory system.

Get cured in 1 day: scheme for rapid treatment of ARVI

Below is an approximate treatment regimen that will help significantly improve well-being and reduce the severity of cold symptoms in just one day, allowing the patient to go to work or continue important activities.

Antiviral therapy

From the very beginning of the disease, it is necessary to start taking drugs with antiviral and immunomodulatory effects, for example, Anaferon or Ergoferon. On the first day of illness, they must be taken according to the following scheme:

  • 4 tablets with an interval of 30 minutes;
  • 3 tablets with an interval of 2 hours.

The tablets should be kept in the mouth until they are completely dissolved. In total, on the first day of treatment you need to take 7 tablets. Lubricate the nasal passages three times a day with nasal ointment " Oxolinic ointment"or instill Grippferon drops.

Bed rest

In order to feel well on the second day of illness and be able to do the necessary things, you must observe strict bed rest. The patient needs to stay in bed, sleep more, and limit TV viewing. This will help restore strength to fight the disease.

Drink plenty of fluids

You need to drink a lot and often. Abundant fluid intake has a positive effect on the dynamics of recovery and general health sick. It is best to combine berry fruit drinks and herbal teas. The total volume of fortified drinks per day should be at least 2-2.5 liters. Additionally, it is recommended to take ascorbic acid - 1 tablet 3 times a day after meals.

Ventilation

Ventilation is necessary to purify the air and destroy viruses that the patient releases into the surrounding space. You need to ventilate the room often - approximately every 2 hours. If the air humidity does not correspond to the norm (a level of 45-60% is considered normal), measures should be taken for additional humidification: turn off the heating devices, turn on the humidifier or spray the air with a spray bottle. Twice a day, wet cleaning should be done using disinfectants - this will help destroy most pathogens indoors and speed up recovery.

Nasal rinsing

Rinsing the nasal passages - the most important procedure for a quick recovery, especially if the infection is at an early stage. If the patient rinses his nose at least 6-10 times a day, there is a chance that the viruses will not have time to enter the bloodstream and the patient will recover in 1-3 days. You can rinse your nose with saline solution (sodium chloride 9%), as well as with ready-made saline solutions, which can be bought at the pharmacy. It can be:

  • "Aquamaris";
  • "Afrin";
  • "Aqualor".

It is recommended to apply nasal ointment or drops into the nasal passages only after preliminary rinsing.

Important! If the patient wants to recover as quickly as possible, it is not recommended to reduce the high temperature (up to 38.6°C). Most viruses die at such rates, so you need to endure the first 24 hours - this will speed up recovery and help develop lasting immunity.

The methods listed above are quite effective in complex treatment ARVI, but you shouldn’t hope for recovery in 1 day. If you follow all the recommendations, you can achieve a significant improvement in your well-being during this period, but you need to continue treatment for another 5-7 days to prevent relapses and complications.

Video - Cure acute respiratory infections and colds without pills

Infectious diseases are combined into a whole group of diseases caused by various agents. The virus enters the body in various ways, may already be in the body and manifest under certain circumstances. The main routes of infection are:

  • hematogenous (injections, non-sterile instruments, blood transfusions, dialysis procedures);
  • fecal-oral (through kissing, food or water, excrement);
  • through insect bites, bodies of water (for example, E. coli).

A viral infection enters the body and begins to develop inside various organs or systems. Viral infection has fundamental differences, which are expressed in the following aspects:

  • incubation period (can range from several days to ten years);
  • prodrome period (activation of the virus after incubation);
  • the height of the disease.

This scheme is suitable for any type of infection, from the usual ARVI to AIDS or hepatitis. Infectious diseases are very contagious, so the epidemiology of the disease is always large-scale. Treatment viral infections should be carried out in hospitals, since at the height of the disease there are only two outcomes: recovery or death of the patient. A common viral infection in adults lasts from 7 to 10 days.

Paradoxically, when this carrier reproduces, it dies, and the patient begins to feel much worse. When a virus enters the body, especially during the prodrome, malaise is felt throughout the body. It is rare for the patient to clearly indicate the location of the pain, discomfort. Usually all organs and systems are affected to one degree or another.

Main types

All viral infectious agents can be roughly classified into rapid and slow. The slower the reaction or intensity of development of the pathology, the more dangerous the virus is to human life. This is due long absence symptoms, and therefore a great destructive impact. Among the main and common viruses are:

  • Herpetic infections. The herpes virus exists in the tissues of any human body, but worsens only in the presence of provoking mechanisms. Some people are completely unaware of this disease until the end of their lives. A characteristic feature herpes is the appearance of blisters on different areas bodies.
  • Encephalitis. Encephalitis affects the membranes of the brain, causing irreversible damage to the central nervous system, human consciousness. The mortality rate of the disease is high. The disease is often accompanied by coma, convulsions, paralysis of the limbs and the whole body. Encephalitis provokes the development of multiple organ failure and the death of the patient in almost 90%.
  • ARVI. The ARVI virus infects the human respiratory system, causing the characteristic symptoms of colds and flu. These signs are known to almost all patients. The danger of a viral infection lies in the chronicity of the disease or in dangerous complications (bronchitis, pneumonia).
  • Viral hepatitis. The disease is characterized by damage to the liver and hepatic structures. Against the background of the development of pathology, persistent impairments in the functionality of the organ are formed, serious complications, which can lead to fatal outcome patient.
  • Meningitis. Meningococcal infection localized in the subcortical part of the brain, infects the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Distributed throughout the body through the bloodstream. On the background adequate therapy Persistent disturbances of consciousness and atrophy of the muscular structure of the limbs persist.
  • Polio. The development of the disease is accompanied by severe convulsions, loss of consciousness, inflammation spinal cord. Paralysis often occurs. Usually the disease leads to profound disability for the patient.
  • Measles. Measles is characterized by the appearance of a red rash on different parts of the body, persistent hyperthermia, and cough. The measles virus is a relatively harmless condition, but often provokes complications such as meningitis or encephalitis.
  • Sexual infections. Frequent view infections known during the formation of any society. Today, this type of infection is highly treatable, provided it is detected early.

Each group of infections represents huge list diseases. The nature of the disease determines the degree of danger of the infectious agent. Timely diagnosis, attention to one’s own body, preventive vaccinations protect children and adults from dangerous consequences infection.

General signs

Signs of a viral infection in adults directly depend on the nature of the infecting agent, its location and extent of spread. TO common features include:

  • slight chills;
  • muscle weakness and soreness;
  • sensitive skin to contact;
  • swollen lymph nodes;
  • persistent body temperature;
  • disruption of the functioning of certain organs;
  • lacrimation, sore throat, cough.

The main difference between ARVI and regular flu is the manifestation in the first case of symptoms of infection, followed by the addition of disorders of the respiratory system. Respiratory diseases usually begin immediately with laryngitis or pharyngitis. For example, during exacerbation herpetic infection patients experience the appearance of blistering formations in different parts body, the state of health worsens, irritability and pain appear in the areas of the blisters. Meningococcal infection manifests itself severe symptoms with pain in the head, confusion, severe deterioration in health and other characteristic signs.

Indications for hospitalization

If the usual signs of ARVI do not frighten many patients and they are able to give an objective assessment of their condition, then the following are the symptoms of a viral infection in adults, which require immediate medical attention:

  • maintaining high temperature;
  • fainting, loss of consciousness:
  • confusion, tremors in the limbs;
  • cough with sputum;
  • fever;
  • pain behind the sternum, insufficient inspiration;
  • the appearance of a rash (redness, large blisters, large spots);
  • strong headache, radiating to the neck;
  • coughing up blood;
  • pasty face or swelling of the limbs.

Such symptoms can be regarded as a complication of a common acute respiratory viral infection, the onset of a serious brain disease. If your immune system is unstable and your condition worsens due to colds, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Diagnostic measures

Diagnosis of viral infections is as follows:

  • visual examination of the patient;
  • studying the patient’s clinical history;
  • immunological study:
  • x-ray chest;
  • urine, blood, stool tests.

Differential diagnosis consists of excluding life-threatening conditions. If necessary, doctors prescribe an MRI of the brain, additional blood tests for various enzymes, and other studies. A timely visit to a doctor will save the patient’s health and life.

Treatment tactics

The treatment tactics for viral infections consist of following the following algorithms:

  • elimination of the cause of the disease (provoking mechanisms);
  • elimination of unpleasant symptoms (pain, dyspeptic disorders, respiratory disorders, other factors);
  • bed rest and special diet.

Drug treatment of a viral infection begins after an accurate diagnosis and clarification of the provoking factors. So what should you take for this disease? A typical ARVI involves prescribing the following medications:

  • non-steroidal drugs (relieve inflammation, reduce fever, relieve pain);
  • antihistamines (have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic effects);
  • local nasal drops (vasoconstrictors for runny nose, swelling and severe congestion nose);
  • throat remedies (relieve redness, swelling, disinfect and soothe irritated mucous membranes);
  • antitussives (promote the separation of sputum, eliminate spasms during the cough reflex, reduce irritation in the bronchi and disinfect).

For other mechanisms of pathology, appropriate drugs are prescribed to increase local immunity and elimination characteristic symptoms. For example, for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections it is prescribed local drugs specific administration for men and women, for herpes infection a prescription is necessary antiviral drugs local and internal use. Enteroviral intestinal infection requires special drugs from the group of absorbents. It is important to understand that taking antibiotics for viral infections is not only pointless, but also very dangerous for the condition of the kidneys, liver or stomach. The right thing to do is to drink plenty of fluids.

Correct and good nutrition, healthy image life, the absence of bad habits, and increased local immunity make it possible to maintain the health of any patient for a long time. When burdened clinical history it is important to undergo regular research and preventive vaccinations. Prevent the disease or episodes of its exacerbation when chronic course much easier than starting to treat it.

Diagnosis of “acute respiratory viral infection” (ARVI or, as it is also called ARI - acute respiratory disease) is most often diagnosed by doctors to clinic visitors. Many people believe that doctors diagnose it without wanting to understand the real reasons for the patient’s illness. In fact ARVI is the most common disease of mankind, approximately 50 % from the total number of acute diseases.

The most common pathogens of ARVI are parainfluenza viruses, influenza viruses, rhinovirus, RS infection, and adenovirus. Because the different shapes have ARVI general forms manifestations, in everyday life these diseases are usually called colds. It follows that the common cold is the general name for a group of mild but contagious upper respiratory tract infections that cause inflammation of the mucous membranes of the throat and nose.

Symptoms develop in one or two days after exposure to the virus on the human body. Got a cold a person is contagious for two to three days from the day before the appearance of the first symptoms. There is no cure for colds but there are a number of measures that can mitigate the symptoms of recovery, which usually occurs within a week.

About two hundred cold viruses are known, the most common are rhinoviruses that affect the nasal mucosa (the cause is approximately 30 % colds).

Science does not know why people are susceptible to colds and certain species viruses in particular. Young children are more susceptible to colds than others, even though they receive antibodies from their mother. They may have a cold up to seven times a year. Adults who spend a lot of time with children (for example, teachers) also often suffer from colds.

There is an opinion that smoking people It is also very common for people to receive a diagnosis of ARVI, but their symptoms do not go away for much longer. This is because tobacco acts on the cilia found inside the throat and nose, paralyzing them, causing them to produce less mucus.

ARVI classification

There are several types of ARVI depending on the pathogen:
rhinovirus infection. In most cases, the course of the disease is mild, special treatment no need. This type of infection is recognized main reason a common cold;
coronavirus infection. The course of the disease is similar to rhinovirus infection, but the duration of the disease is shorter (up to a week);
adenovirus infection. Applies mainly to children (even infants). Often to traditional symptoms symptoms of conjunctivitis are added (redness, feeling of sand in the eyes, lacrimation);
parainfluenza The most common symptoms: cough (barking), sore throat, hoarseness.

Main symptoms of ARVI

ARVI is diagnosed based on the following criteria:
runny nose (as a rule, the discharge is clear, but yellow or greenish is possible);
pain or irritation in the throat, accompanied by hoarseness;
sneezing;
inflammation of the mucous membranes of the throat and nose, causing discomfort day and night;
cough;
feeling of fatigue and general malaise;
muscle pain;
slight increase in temperature (more common in children than in adults).

If symptoms do not go away within 7-10 days, You should seek help from a doctor!

How does ARVI spread?

Respiratory viruses live and multiply in the nasal mucosa and are abundantly secreted along with the nasal secretions of the patient. The most high concentration viruses are found in nasal secretions during the first three days of illness. In addition, viruses enter environment when coughing and sneezing, after which they settle on all kinds of surfaces, on hands, and they also persist on towels, handkerchiefs and other hygiene items. Healthy man can catch the infection by inhaling air saturated large quantity viruses, or using the patient’s hygiene items (viruses penetrate the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose through the hands).

Risk factors for ARVI

Everyone knows that ARVI is a seasonal disease. In autumn, winter and spring, due to hypothermia, which provokes these diseases, they are most common. People with weak immune systems are most predisposed to ARVI: children, adults suffering from congenital or acquired forms of immunodeficiency, as well as the elderly.

Causes of ARVI in children

Newborn children have temporary immunity received from their mother. But upon reaching six months of age, it weakens, while the child’s own immunity does not have time to fully develop. It is at this time that the baby is most vulnerable to the disease.

It is important to keep in mind that young children have not yet developed personal hygiene skills such as washing their hands or covering their coughs and sneezes. At the same time, children often touch their nose, mouth and eyes.

The system for removing ear and nasal secretions in children is not fully developed, therefore there is a high probability of developing bacterial complications after a cold (otitis, sinusitis). In addition, children have a smaller diameter of the trachea and bronchi, so children are prone to blockage of the airways heavy discharge or swelling of the mucous membrane.

Complications about ARVI

The most common complications:
Acute sinusitis. During the period of acute respiratory viral infection, the body is most vulnerable to other infections, including bacterial ones. The most common complication is bacterial sinusitis, which is an inflammation of the sinuses, in particular frontal sinusitis, sinusitis, and sphenoiditis. You can suspect a complication in the form of sinusitis if the symptoms of the disease, such as heaviness in the head, nasal congestion, headache, elevated temperature, are saved after 10th day of illness. If acute sinusitis If not cured in time, it can develop into a chronic form, the treatment of which is more problematic. Only the attending physician can diagnose “acute sinusitis” and prescribe appropriate treatment.
Acute otitis media, or inflammation of the middle ear. This complication is familiar to almost everyone. It's hard not to notice him. It is extremely important to consult a specialist in time to make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment, since an infection in the middle ear is dangerous due to its serious consequences.
Acute bronchitis . The bronchi are also susceptible to bacterial infection. Main sign acute bronchitis - wet cough with yellow or green sputum. It is important to remember that those suffering chronic diseases upper respiratory tract ( chronic form sinusitis, bronchitis) of people during the period of acute respiratory viral infection or immediately after, complications of these diseases may appear.
Inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia). Probably one of the most dangerous complications after ARVI. The diagnosis can only be made by comprehensive examination. But if after 7-10 days of illness there are no noticeable improvements, there is still a high fever and cough, you should urgently consult a doctor.

Diagnosis of ARVI

If the course of the disease is typical, diagnosing ARVI is quite easy. To exclude possible complications, the patient is referred for chest fluorography, urine and blood tests. If there is any suspicion of bacterial cause diseases, a culture is taken to determine the type of causative bacteria. Carrying out immunological studies to determine the type of virus that provoked the disease is advisable only when severe forms diseases, serious difficulties in making a diagnosis (and, as a consequence, in treatment); in other cases, the value of the research is exclusively scientific.

Cold treatment

1. Maintaining semi-bed rest. The room in which the patient is located must be regularly ventilated.
2. Drink plenty of warm drinks(not less 2 l daily). This amount of liquid will help to quickly remove toxins formed by the activity of viruses from the body. It's best to drink fluids rich in vitamins With: rosehip infusion, tea with lemon, fruit drinks.
3. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: ibuprofen, paracetamol, diclofenac. These drugs reduce pain and body temperature. It is allowed to take medications with medicinal powders like Coldrex, Theraflu and so on. It is important to know that lowering the temperature below 38 C no need, because it is at this temperature that the body’s defense mechanisms begin to actively work. This rule does not apply to small children and patients prone to seizures.
4. Antihistamines – drugs used in the treatment of allergies. They have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, therefore they relieve signs of inflammation: swelling of the mucous membranes, nasal congestion. There is a group of first generation drugs, side effect which causes drowsiness. This group includes suprastin, tavegil, diphenhydramine. New generation drugs such as Semprex, Loratadine (Claritin), Zyrtec, Fenistil do not cause drowsiness.
5. Nasal drops. They relieve nasal congestion and reduce swelling of the mucous membrane. But this one at first glance safe drug not so harmless. On the one hand, during ARVI, you need to use nasal drops to reduce swelling and improve the flow of fluid from the nose as a preventive measure for sinusitis. But the use of vasoconstrictor drops for a long time can lead to the appearance of chronic rhinitis. Uncontrolled use of drugs leads to thickening of the mucous membrane in the nasal passages, this develops dependence on drops, and ultimately can lead to constant nasal congestion. This complication can be cured only through surgery. Thus, it is necessary to carefully monitor the regimen of using drops: no longer than a week 2-3 once a day.
6. Relieving sore throat. A gargling that many people don't like disinfectants is the most effective method fight against colds. You can use infusions of chamomile and sage or ready-made solutions, for example, furatsilin. The procedure should be carried out frequently - approximately every 2 hours. In addition, you can use disinfectant sprays such as bioparox, hexoral and others.
7. Cough medicines. the main objective Cough treatment - make sputum thin enough to cough up. Helps a lot with this drinking regime, since drinking warm liquids thins the phlegm. If you have difficulty coughing up, you can take expectorant medications. mucaltin, ACC, broncholitin etc. You should not prescribe medications that reduce the cough reflex yourself, as this can lead to dangerous consequences.

Under no circumstances should you take antibiotics! Antibiotics are used only when bacterial complications occur; they are absolutely useless against viruses. Thus, there is no need to take antibiotics without your doctor's knowledge. They are not harmless to the body. Moreover, uncontrolled use of antibiotics can lead to the emergence of forms of bacteria resistant to them.

Folk remedies for the treatment of ARVI

Excellent product to relieve heat and inflammation- raspberries. To prepare tea with raspberry jam, you need to dilute it in a mug of water. 2-3 teaspoons jam. To prepare a drink from dried raspberries, you need to pour a glass of boiling water over a spoonful of the fruit and let it brew. 10-15 minutes.
At high temperature The following solution is useful: 2 tablespoons of coltsfoot leaves and raspberry fruits, a spoonful of oregano herb. Pour one tablespoon of the resulting mixture with a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour, then strain. Take according to 3-4 once a day.
During It is recommended to dissolve a small amount of propolis in the mouth until completely dissolved, and for flu and colds - drink tea with a little honey added. Both honey and propolis are contraindicated for children under six months of age.
With a runny nose The following solution should be used twice a day: mix a tablespoon of black elderberry flowers, linden leaves, peppermint. Pour one tablespoon of the resulting mixture with a glass of boiling water and leave for an hour, then strain.
For a sore throat Rinsing with a frequency of at least six times a day with the following solution will be effective: a tablespoon of calendula tincture or a teaspoon of soda with the addition of three drops of iodine per glass of water.
Relieve sore throat and cough Linden flowers will help. Lime tea: For a mug of water, two teaspoons of linden blossom.
A large number of essential oils that are effective to relieve spasms of the respiratory tract, contained in fir oil. This oil is used for massage.
For colds and flu massage the chest, back and neck (the area above the collarbones). Older children and adults are recommended to inhale with the addition of 3-4 drops of fir oil per procedure.
For the treatment of colds and flu You can use garlic and onions, which contain natural antibiotics. During a flu epidemic, doctors advise eating a small onion or a few cloves of garlic.
Inhalations are also effective with aphonia (loss of voice), hoarseness, difficulty breathing. For a glass of boiling water 2-3 finely chopped heads of garlic. Covering your head with a towel, for 10-15 inhale the vapors for minutes.

The mechanism of action of such drugs is not yet fully understood. There are a lot of new drugs created to treat viruses, but they have not yet been approved for mass use, despite successful clinical trials.

What medications are there to treat viruses and how to choose the “right” drug?
.site) will help you learn a lot about this.

Medicines to treat viruses must meet certain standards. Firstly, such products must be as gentle as possible on the host cells in which the viruses live, while effectively destroying the viruses themselves. When choosing an antiviral agent, it is impossible to take into account the intensity of the immune system, and this is one of the most important factors successful treatment virus. Methods for testing antiviral drugs on each individual virus have not yet been developed.

If you go to the pharmacy for antiviral medicine You need to know that all drugs used to treat viruses are divided into three categories: drugs of chemical origin, interferon-based drugs and interferon inducers.

Medicines of chemical origin

Chemical drugs used to treat viruses destroy viruses. Most often, drugs from this group are used to treat influenza and herpes. However, viruses very quickly develop resistance to such drugs. Today, chemical medicines based on plant materials are being developed to treat viruses. These new generation drugs give very good results. Perhaps in a few years there will be an effective treatment for the herpes virus.

Interferon-based drugs

Drugs for treating viruses based on interferons are natural substances that are produced in every cell of the human body. By using such means to treat a virus, you do not risk disrupting the functioning of any organs or systems. You simply introduce additional amounts of interferons into the body, which prevent viruses from multiplying and remove them from the body. Interferon drugs identify proteins that are synthesized by viruses and destroy the genetic information contained in them.

Medicines for the treatment of viruses based on interferons come in three varieties: alpha interferons, beta interferons and gamma interferons. According to the form of production, such drugs are divided into: natural human, leukocyte and recombinant. Similar drugs can be successfully used to treat herpes viruses, hepatitis, ARVI, HIV and more.

It has been proven that when using interferons to treat viruses, it not only destroys pathogenic microorganisms, but also improves health the immune system generally. At the cellular level, the immune system begins to work more actively.

Interferon inducers

The third group of antiviral drugs are interferon inducers. The drugs in this group are very diverse. Among them there are medicines of artificial and natural origin. All of them are aimed at activating the body’s production of its own interferon. Interferon inducers are the latest word in science in the treatment of viruses. Quite successfully, drugs from this group are used to treat influenza viruses, eye herpes, rhinovirus and many other viral infections.

In some way, numerous dietary supplements can be called interferon inducers (biologically active additives). These drugs do not directly affect the virus. They help the body produce necessary substances to fight the virus. Therefore, to treat viruses various types you can use this group of drugs. To enough effective means Cordyceps produced by Tiens can be attributed to help destroy viral infections and strengthen the immune system. Cordyceps is created on the basis of exclusively natural substances, helps the immune system cope with many pathogenic microorganisms, and also cleanses the body of waste products accumulating in cells.