Treatment of influenza and ARVI in adults and children: choosing effective and inexpensive drugs

Home — Disease prevention — Influenza — Symptoms and treatment of influenza

Influenza is an infectious disease affecting the respiratory tract of a viral nature. Symptoms arise acutely; a person can often indicate the hour when he felt unwell: the temperature rises sharply, chills occur, pain in the joints and muscles, and cough. Diagnosis: influenza can be confirmed using PCR diagnostics.

Symptoms

Viruses cause influenza. The disease is severe. Human susceptibility to the influenza virus is very high. During an epidemic, there is a high probability of infection. Flu symptoms in an adult develop rapidly, literally a few hours after infection. The patient's whole body aches, the temperature rises and the head hurts very badly.

On the very first day, symptoms of intoxication of the body and damage to the respiratory tract appear. The main signs of influenza in adults include the following symptoms:

1. Headache . The reason for this is the impact of waste products of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition to severe pain, many patients complain of constant dizziness. Due to severe intoxication of the body, the patient experiences pain in the eyes and temples. A feverish state causes vasodilation, which also contributes to headaches.
2. Temperature . The onset of the disease always begins acutely. The patient experiences chills and increased sweating. The temperature rises sharply and often reaches 39-40 degrees. If the flu is mild, it can be within 38 degrees. It is not recommended to bring down such a temperature; the body is able to fight on its own. The duration of this febrile state is usually 3-5 days.
3. Cough . In 9 out of 10 cases, a patient with influenza has it. This is one of the main and very unpleasant signs of influenza in adults. If the form is not severe, then the cough will bother the patient for 5-7 days. If treatment is not timely and there are complications, the process can drag on for a long time. This is due to the fact that the mucous membrane of the pharynx is inflamed due to infection by the virus. Cough is also the cause of her constant irritation. And if a bacterial infection occurs, the cough will contribute to the spread of the virus.
4. Weakness . One of the first signs of influenza in adults is considered to be a state of fatigue and weakness. The reason for this is the body’s need to constantly fight the virus, which takes a lot of strength and energy. Even after illness, this condition will persist for some period of time. You should strengthen your immune system to cope with the disease.
5. Runny nose . The mucous membrane of the nasopharynx becomes dry, red and swollen. A couple of days after infection, profuse nasal discharge appears. In this case, there is a decrease in sense of smell and a burning sensation. It becomes difficult for the patient to breathe through his nose. Nosebleeds may occur due to intense sneezing.
6. A sore throat . The patient usually complains of a sore throat and dry mouth. The patient has redness of the palate and the entire mucous membrane of the larynx. If the flu is severe, swelling or even bleeding may occur.
7. Changes in the cardiovascular system . They manifest themselves in the form of noise or rhythm disturbances. When listening, the therapist can identify muffled tones. The reason for this is toxic damage to the heart. If the temperature stays at 38-39 degrees, then the pulse will be more frequent and the skin will be pale. After a few days, when the fever subsides, the pulse will normalize and the skin will return to its normal appearance.

If signs of influenza appear in adults, you should immediately call a therapist at home. You should not self-medicate, as infection with the virus can cause complications in the heart, kidneys or lungs. All this will contribute to the deterioration of the patient’s condition, and in especially severe cases can lead to death. Only a doctor prescribes medications and treatment for influenza in adults.

Categories of people who are at risk need to be especially careful and attentive. This is due to the fact that for certain reasons their immunity is reduced. This group includes:

• babies, because their immunity has not yet formed and become stronger;
• older people with chronic diseases;
• patients recovering from serious infectious diseases or surgical operations;
• women expecting a baby or breastfeeding.

Such people need to be as careful as possible during an epidemic and be sure to follow all recommended preventive measures.

How many days do you usually get the flu?

It never hurts to know how many days people have the flu, during what period the disease is especially contagious and after how many days it is not dangerous for your loved ones at all. How to determine that the disease is already in your body, and how can you be treated using folk remedies? All this information will help you avoid infecting your family and friends and go on sick leave on time without developing a couple of serious complications.

In addition, if you are aware of what factors influence the duration of the disease, you can do your best to avoid them. This way you will quickly get back on your feet, and a mild form of the flu will not turn into a severe form.

How to detect a virus?

Doctors classify influenza as an acute viral infection. Many of its symptoms are very similar to a cold, so very often people think that dealing with the flu is just as easy. Because of these fundamentally incorrect judgments, some do not go to the doctor, thereby signing their own death sentence. Unlike many similar infections and viruses, influenza can mutate into different strains and cause complications, and if delayed, even death is possible.

Most often, this virus comes in outbreaks. Therefore, if any of the above symptoms are present in your body during the peak of diseases in your city, going to the doctor or calling him at home should not be postponed even for a couple of hours. The disease differs from ARVI in its severity and speed. To put it simply: an hour ago you were working or preparing dinner for the whole family, and now you can barely get out of bed and the thermometer shows a high temperature.

Signs of influenza vary depending on its type and form, but several general points can be identified:

1. Heat. With a mild form of flu, it stops at 38 degrees, a moderate one brings 39 and a half, and a severe one can “please” 40. At the same time, the temperature does not have any intermediate stages and rises instantly, stays at its mark and does not go astray. May have a fever.
2. Pain all over the body. Usually it is impossible to determine its source, it’s just that every muscle or joint seems to be completely engulfed in aches, and sometimes an unpleasant aching feeling may appear, as after an intense workout.
3. Weakness. Elementary actions seem impossible, and even a simple lifting of a mug of tea can be compared to the cobblestones of Sisyphus, and getting out of bed is an impossible heroism.
4. Redness of the skin and eyes. Very often, when people have the flu, their face and eyes become very red. Therefore, sometimes signs of the disease are mistaken for ordinary allergies.
5. Headache. Again, it is non-local and it is not possible to determine the source, or it often moves from place to place. There may also be a buzzing in the head.
6. Dry cough. Often not accompanied by a sore throat.
7. Runny nose. Usually very strong. Even the sprays and drops found in the first aid kit do not help. Breathing is blocked almost completely.
8. Intoxication. Vomiting, strong or mild nosebleeds, hallucinations, convulsions affecting the entire body. All this is present in a mild form of influenza, but the full “bouquet” is revealed in a severe form of the disease.

If you notice these symptoms, it is better to immediately take some kind of anti-inflammatory drug and consult a doctor. It is worth remembering: the most effective treatment is carried out within 48 hours of the onset of the disease.

Flu duration

It is almost impossible to give an absolutely exact number of days during which the disease or at least its active phase lasts.
This number depends on many factors: on the type of disease and virus, on its complexity, and even on your immunity and the presence of any chronic diseases in the body. With complications, the duration of the disease increases. However, we can guess how long the flu will last without complications in an adult.

Most often, the disease takes 5 to 10 days from your daily life. In this case, from 2 to 4 days you will suffer from high fever and general malaise, after which, if, of course, the treatment was received on time, the symptoms gradually weaken, or even disappear altogether.

If, after the temperature has dropped to normal levels, the symptoms return again, know that another infection or a common cold is occurring in your body, caused by a weakened immune system.

But after this period you are unlikely to feel good. After recovery, post-infectious asthenia may well occur. It usually manifests itself in fatigue, irritability, and headaches. This period can last about 2 weeks. Therefore, you should check out and go back to work only when you feel like a completely healthy and energetic person.

The disease is greatly influenced by compliance with all doctor’s recommendations. This includes complete bed rest, taking all prescribed tablets, especially those that have an anti-inflammatory effect, paracetamol, for example.

Under no circumstances should you carry the disease on your feet and overload your body. If you exercise, forget about exercising until you are fully recovered.

In terms of contagiousness, the flu is very insidious. You can infect others even before the first signs of illness appear.

The virus in your body is dangerous for your loved ones during the active phase of the disease for the first 5-7 days. But in severe or childhood forms, the duration can increase significantly.

Treatment with folk remedies

To ensure that the disease does not live in your body for so long, traditional treatment can also be supported by folk remedies. But it’s worth remembering: before taking them, just in case, consult your doctor, as some products and methods may disrupt the treatment regimen.

The first method of treating influenza is widely known. This is an infusion based on vodka. But it should be prepared in advance, before illness, for example, if you find out that an epidemic has spread through the city. For this you need to take:

• 50 g cinnamon;
• 0.5 l of vodka.

All components must be mixed and left out of reach of sunlight (for example, in a closet) for 3 weeks, sometimes taken out to shake. After this, strain the infusion through cheesecloth. They need to be treated in the amount of 20-30 drops 30 minutes before breakfast, lunch and dinner.

If you just feel that the disease is on the way, there is one method that can even stop it. It is worth cutting a large onion lengthwise into two parts, bending over it and inhaling its vapors for a couple of minutes. Do this 3-4 times a day. And before such treatment, you can insert cotton wool soaked in garlic juice into your nose each time. Homemade drops will also help against the flu. To make them, you need to crush 2 peeled garlic, preferably small ones, and pour one glass of vodka over them, shake. You need to take the medicine by dropping it on your tongue.

Flu prevention

Flu is a disease that is not easily tolerated by the body. Therefore, it is better to take care of prevention in time and not get sick at all. In order to avoid getting sick with seasonal flu during epidemics, follow a few simple rules.

1. When coming from the street, wash your hands with soap as thoroughly as possible. You can even wash them up to your elbows.
2. Rinse your nose with a warm salt solution or a special spray.
3. Wash all fruits and vegetables well.
4. Be in public places less often, especially in transport. Walk to work whenever possible.
5. Walk outside more often and breathe fresh air, but only in relatively deserted places.
6. Disinfect and clean your hands frequently.
7. Ventilate the rooms every day and do wet cleaning in the apartment.
8. If there is a sick person in the family, do not contact him. Give the patient a bandage. Give him a separate set of dishes and pour boiling water over the plates, mugs and spoons every time after eating.

Mild flu is not that dangerous if it is detected and treated early.

But remember: you shouldn’t delay it if you don’t want consequences. And if you have problems with the heart, lungs, or are a woman in an interesting situation, it is better to get the flu under the careful supervision of doctors, since any complication can cause a miscarriage.

respiratoria.ru

Treatment

Flu is a dangerous disease and requires treatment under the supervision of a physician. It should be borne in mind that the latent phase precedes the appearance of the first symptoms of influenza in adults. The length of the incubation period depends on the type of virus, it is usually 3-5 days. The most dangerous period in terms of contagiousness for others is considered to be from 5 to 7 days from the moment the first symptoms appear.

The disease can be typical or atypical. In the first case, all the symptoms of the flu will appear in an adult with a fever. While in the atypical form the disease proceeds completely without fever or intoxication and differs in duration. This is a fulminant form of the flu. Cases of atypical influenza are usually isolated, while typical influenza rages during epidemics.

How to treat influenza in an adult should be decided only by the attending physician. Delay or incorrect therapy can cause a deterioration in the patient’s condition or a serious complication. Only the use of an integrated approach will help cope with the disease.

Treatment for influenza in adults can theoretically be divided into 2 types:

1. Non-drug therapy . The patient should be provided with rest and bed rest. He must drink a lot of fluids, this will help quickly eliminate waste and toxins. The virus causes symptoms such as nausea, headache and loss of energy. The patient also loses fluid due to excessive sweating. To avoid dehydration, you need to drink a lot. It is recommended to drink the drink warm, giving preference to herbal tea, berry juice or mineral water with lemon. You should avoid drinking very hot drinks to avoid injuring your sore throat. There is also no need to cover the patient with a very warm blanket. This may cause disruption of the thermoregulation process. For any symptoms of influenza, treatment in adults should only be carried out under the supervision of a physician, since the disease is dangerous due to its complications. It is recommended to call a doctor at home rather than go to the clinic yourself.
2. Drug therapy . When treating influenza in adults, antiviral drugs and symptomatic drugs are used. Arbidol helps fight the pathogen. The drug is produced in Russia, has passed all clinical trials, during which its effectiveness in treating influenza, reducing the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms of the disease and reducing the likelihood of developing serious complications was confirmed. The main task of symptomatic drugs is to reduce temperature and relieve pain. Typically, the therapist prescribes one of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, which include ibuprofen and paracetamol. To treat a runny nose, vasoconstrictor drops are used, which are recommended to be used for no more than one week due to the risk of drug-induced rhinitis. Depending on the type of cough, the doctor will prescribe the necessary medicine. For a wet cough, the therapist will prescribe a medicine that helps thin the sputum and cleanse the lungs. If the cough is dry, then it is necessary to take medications that suppress such attacks.

Only a therapist can answer the question of how to treat influenza in adults. A patient who refuses to consult a doctor and takes medications without a medical prescription may choose the wrong drug and thereby worsen his condition, causing congestion in the lungs. This therapy is fraught with pneumonia. And if the flu can be cured in a week, then the complication can be treated for months.

When the first symptoms of influenza appear in adults, treatment can be carried out at home, if the course of the disease is not complicated by other pathologies and does not occur in a complex form. The appearance of a virus in the body leads to a decrease in immunity, therefore, with the flu, chronic diseases often worsen and bacterial complications appear:

How long does a cold last in an adult: how many days does it take to pass?

If a person feels the first symptoms of a cold, it is necessary to understand what exactly has arisen: a cold or flu, and how long it will take for treatment.

The first signs of these diseases include:

• sneezing and coughing,
• temperature increase,
• headache,
• aching joints.

A cold has a milder course than the flu. A cold incapacitates a person for several days, and the flu, most often, goes away only after a few weeks.

Unlike a cold, the flu can lead to serious complications that can lead to prolonged hospitalization.

Main symptoms of a cold

A sore throat is the first sign of a cold; the discomfort disappears around the third day. In parallel with the discomfort in the throat, a person experiences:

1. nasal congestion,
2. cough,
3. rhinorrhea.

All of the above symptoms go away after four to five days.

In adults, fever rarely occurs as a result of a cold, but low-grade fever is possible. Children are more likely to suffer from fever due to a cold than adults.

When you have a cold, watery fluid is released from the nasal cavity for the first 1-2 days. Later, the discharge thickens and acquires a dark shade. This type of mucus is a natural phenomenon and does not mean the activation of a bacterial infection.

Typically, a cold lasts about 7-8 days. In the first 3 days, a person is considered infectious to other people. Since there is a high probability of transmitting the virus, you should adhere to bed rest and minimize contact with others.

If symptoms do not go away for more than a week, most likely a bacterial infection has been added to the cold and you should start taking antibiotics.

Sometimes the symptoms of a cold are confused with sinusitis or allergic rhinitis - hay fever. If the symptoms quickly decrease and improvement occurs, we can say that it is not an allergy, but a common cold.

When the condition remains unchanged after a week, you should consult a doctor.

Flu symptoms

Regardless of whether a person has swine flu or regular flu, the symptoms are almost identical. The flu is more severe and its symptoms become more intense.

Key symptoms of influenza include:

• pain and discomfort in the throat,
• fever,
• headache,
• aches in joints and muscles,
• nasal congestion,
• cough.

Swine flu has its own additional symptoms - diarrhea and vomiting.

Most symptoms go away within 2-5 days. A typical complication of influenza is pneumonia, which most often develops in the elderly and children.

If you have shortness of breath, it is important to tell your doctor how long it lasts. A characteristic sign of pneumonia is recurrent fever. A person experiences a repeated rise in temperature the very next day after it subsides, as well as shortness of breath. It is necessary to tell the doctor about the manifestations of the disease and how long they last.

Viruses enter the human body through the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth and nose. You should wash your hands every time you touch these areas to prevent infection.

To determine the presence of the disease, body temperature should be measured. Often the flu occurs like a cold, accompanied by malaise, cough and nasal congestion.

With a cold, the temperature rarely goes above 38 degrees. If we are talking about the flu, then the temperature is associated with the activity of viruses, so the person feels weak and weak. The flu is also characterized by muscle aches.

With influenza there is:

1. sudden loss of strength,
2. exhaustion,
3. lethargy,
4. weakness.

The above phenomena disappear after treatment in 7-15 days.

With the flu, frequent and severe discomfort in the chest is observed. A cold does not cause such sensations.

Complications of influenza may include:

• sinusitis
• inflammation of the middle ear,
• bronchitis,
• pneumonia.

Treatment

The following drugs are used in therapy:

1. antihistamines,
2. decongestants,
3. anti-inflammatory
4. analgesics (Paracetamol, Ibuprofen),
5. antiviral and anti-cold drugs.

It is best to start taking medications within the first 48 hours after symptoms appear.

When to see a doctor

If a person has already started to have a cold or flu, you should tell your doctor about the following symptoms:

1. Persistent fever. May indicate a bacterial infection that needs treatment,
2. Pain when swallowing. The inflammatory process in the throat during a flu or cold causes discomfort, and with the development of a sore throat, the pain in the throat intensifies significantly, which requires immediate treatment under the supervision of a doctor,
3. Recurrent cough. When cough symptoms do not disappear within 2 or 3 weeks, this may indicate the development of bronchitis, which requires the use of antibiotics to eliminate it.
4. Prolonged nasal congestion and headaches. If the outflow of fluid from the sinuses is disrupted, sinusitis begins. This disease is typical for allergies and colds.

A recurrent cough is caused by mucus draining from the nasopharynx, as well as sinusitis. Asthma also provokes this type of cough. Anti-inflammatory medications, steroids, and bronchodilators are used to treat asthma.

If there is pain around the face and eyes, as well as thick green or yellow discharge from the nose that does not go away for more than 7 days, then we can talk about a bacterial infection and taking antibiotics.

Sometimes urgent medical attention may be required. Signs of critical illness in adults are:

• Severe chest pain
• dizziness,
• Dyspnea,
• Severe migraine
• confusion,
• Frequent vomiting.

Signs of a critical condition are:

1. Blue complexion,
2. Rapid or difficult breathing,
3. Lack of fluid
4. Decreased and drowsy activity,
5. High irritability
6. Improvement and sudden worsening of symptoms,
7. Fever and rash.

Disease Prevention

The easiest way to prevent influenza, swine flu and colds is to thoroughly wash your hands. Hands should be washed with warm water and soap for 20 seconds.

To prevent colds, you can get vaccinated. As a rule, an increase in seasonal influenza activity is recorded between December and March.

Doctors recommend vaccination in October or November. A few weeks after vaccination, antibodies are produced in the blood, which protect the body from colds and flu.

If a person gets sick with the flu, it is best to see a doctor. Suitable antiviral medications will be prescribed, which can also be used for preventive purposes after contact with a sick person.

It is important to monitor the frequency and thoroughness of hand washing, and also avoid contact with people with respiratory diseases. To protect yourself from colds and flu, you should get vaccinated and consult your doctor about antiviral medications. The video in this article will answer basic questions about ARVI and colds.

stopgripp.ru>

Preventive measures

Preventing the disease is always easier than curing the flu in an adult. It is recommended to follow the following rules for flu prevention:

1. You must first get a flu shot.
2. You must constantly wash your hands using disinfectants.
3. It is recommended to regularly ventilate the room.
4. You should avoid public transport; walking in the fresh air will only be beneficial.
5. During an epidemic, it would be wise not to visit public places.
6. You should rinse your nose with a salt solution every day.
7. Attention should be paid to humidifying the room.
8. Make it a rule to do wet cleaning in your apartment every day.
9. It is recommended to add garlic and onions to dishes.
10. You need to diversify your menu with vegetables and fruits, especially citrus fruits.
11. Contact with people showing cold symptoms should be reduced to a minimum.
12. Morning exercises and sports will help improve your health.
13. You should adhere to a healthy lifestyle, eliminating all bad habits.
14. Night sleep should be sufficient, at least 7-8 hours.

It will also be useful to consult a physician on how to treat influenza in adults. He will also recommend medications and agents that enhance immunity. If one of the family members gets sick, it is recommended not to delay taking antiviral drugs for prophylactic purposes.

If there are flu-like symptoms, treatment in adults should be under medical supervision. You cannot expect to be able to heal on your own. Following all the doctor’s prescriptions will make it possible to avoid complications.

Treatment and post-infectious complications

Treatment of influenza in adults and children follows the same principles, but the likelihood of complications in children and the elderly is much higher. This is due to reduced immunity. In older people, it decreases due to the aging of the body and a decrease in reparative processes. In childhood, immunity is still developing, which often leads to various diseases.

Treatment for infection should begin as early as possible. This also applies to antiviral drugs for influenza, which are practically useless to take already on the third day of illness. Therefore, at the first symptoms, or even better before they appear, when there was contact with a flu patient, you need to take an antiviral drug, for example, amantadine (Midantan), Rimantadine, Tamiflu; interferon preparations (“Interferon”, “Aflubin”). This allows you to prevent illness or shorten the duration of illness by 1–3 days.

Taking antiviral drugs for influenza will not only help shorten the duration of the disease, but also prevent the development of complications, so they should be used in people with reduced immunity. Antiviral drugs are also used to treat complications.

When treating the disease, it is important to adhere to bed drinking regime. Bed rest is necessary even for mild flu, since complications often arise precisely due to non-compliance with bed rest. In patients with moderate influenza, bed rest significantly improves the patient's condition. It is advisable to create a comfortable environment, dim light, and silence, since bright light and noise often irritate influenza patients.

Bed rest is needed both to limit the patient’s communication and to reduce the risk of infection for others. Caregivers should use personal protective equipment (mask) for prevention purposes.

To reduce the risk of infection, you need to wet clean the room and ventilate it, since high humidity and fresh air cause the death of the virus. Personal items, dishes, linen, and toys for children should be treated with disinfectant solutions or detergents.

Symptomatic treatment means that each type of drug is taken for specific symptoms.

How long does it take to treat the flu?

For adults – about seven days, for children – maybe a little longer.

It also happens that a person is ill for a week, and soon after recovery he falls ill again, because he does not at least follow the basic rules of prevention and does not take into account that his immune system is still too weak to risk his health.

Of course, again it may no longer be a flu infection, but a common cold, which will be easier to cope with.

But there could also be something worse - so the prevention of ARVI should be taken very seriously.

When treating influenza, you need to stay in bed

Therefore, it is not for nothing that they talk about the need for a recovery period after an illness, during which a person needs:

• calm;
• semi-bed rest;
• good nutrition;
• consumption of vitamins;
• lack (minimization) of contacts with patients.

Sometimes the resumption of flu symptoms after a seemingly complete recovery indicates the onset of complications - for example, the addition of a bacterial infection.

This is why doctors strongly discourage vigorous activity immediately after you feel healthy, that is, freed from the main signs of the disease.

Post-infectious illness can begin at any time, weakening the immune system and allowing the infection to attack again.

Some people sincerely believe that the disease will not last long and can be cured in a few days if they take the first antiviral drugs that come across or are beautifully advertised on the Internet (on TV or in the pharmacy).

However, such an assumption is not only incorrect, but also potentially dangerous!

Prescribing medications for therapy is the job of an experienced specialist who must first:

• examine you;
• perhaps refer you for examinations;
• make the correct diagnosis.

Only then does the doctor prescribe suitable medications that will not harm your health, but, on the contrary, will bring the day of recovery and recovery closer.

Only a qualified doctor can make an accurate diagnosis

In addition, it is impossible to talk about how many days people suffer from the flu without taking into account the specific type of this infection.

Interesting video

Antiviral drugs with immunomodulatory properties help relieve cold symptoms and also reduce the risk of complications.

AMIXIN ®, by activating the production of 4 types of interferons, fights viral infection at all stages of its development in the human body, so the medicine can be recommended for use at any stage of a cold.

To learn more…

Tilorone preparations are modern antiviral and immunostimulating agents.

AMIXIN ® is included in the list of vital and essential medicines approved in the State Register of manufacturers' maximum selling prices for medicines.

Read more…

For the treatment of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections, AMIXIN ® can be used in adults and children over 7 years of age.

Find out more about AMIXIN ®...

AMIXIN ® 125 mg can be recommended both for the treatment of colds and for their prevention, including for persons in contact with the patient.

To learn more…

We hear about influenza and ARVI almost every year: with the onset of autumn and spring, doctors talk about another outbreak of morbidity. And experts always emphasize that symptoms cannot be ignored. Secondary bacterial complications and exacerbations of pulmonary pathologies are just some of the consequences that ARVI suffered on the legs can lead to [1]. And the flu is even more dangerous. Let's talk today about the main methods and means of treating ARVI and influenza.

Possible complications

Regardless of the form and type, treatment for influenza is necessary because it can cause complications. Influenza A provokes pulmonary edema, impaired blood circulation in the brain, and can cause instant cardiac arrest.

Influenza B and C are milder, but can cause hearing complications (otitis media), as well as sinusitis, rhinitis, and sinusitis. Often, as a result of untreated influenza, bronchitis, bronchial asthma and pneumonia occur.

There is no need to self-medicate, but be sure to consult a doctor about treatment. The main thing is to take the full course of medications, even if the symptoms disappear earlier. It is important to completely destroy the virus in the body to avoid relapse.

Principles of treatment of ARVI and influenza

To date, about 200 causative agents of influenza and ARVI are known, and this list, unfortunately, is expanding [2]. Three main viruses that cause influenza have been identified - A, B and C. A larger group of pathogens causes ARVI: adenoviruses, parainfluenza viruses, rhinoviruses and others [3].

Viruses are transmitted through airborne droplets from sick people when they sneeze and cough. But infection can also occur through household items and touch [5]. Symptoms of ARVI and influenza develop suddenly: usually, against the background of good health, a headache begins, the person feels weak, the temperature rises to 38 degrees and above, patients complain of pain in the muscles and joints.

The first manifestations of influenza are accompanied by catarrhal phenomena: the mucous membranes of the pharynx and nose swell, a runny nose, rawness or sore throat begins, and as the disease develops, chest pain and a dry cough. For two to three days, the patient feels especially bad, as there is fever, symptoms of intoxication, and catarrhal symptoms. If treatment is started promptly, the fever usually subsides within three to five days, but coughing and nasal discharge may persist for up to 10 days [6].

But this is what the general picture of the disease looks like. Depending on the specific pathogen, the patient may have other symptoms: conjunctivitis, liver damage, intestinal disorders, etc. [7].

The fight against influenza and ARVI viruses is a serious burden on the immune system. Moreover, viruses, gradually changing, have “learned” to effectively suppress the action of a person’s innate defenses [8]. That is why they so often talk not only about the danger of the viral disease itself, but also about the possibility of various complications, including pneumonia: a weakened body is easily affected by bacterial pathogens. Therefore, if you notice the first symptoms of influenza or ARVI, the principles of treatment recommended by your doctor must be followed. Bed rest, taking antiviral drugs - none of these should be ignored or missed.

Etiotropic drugs for the treatment of respiratory viral infections

The modern approach to the treatment of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections involves a complex effect. An important part of it is the use of etiotropic drugs, that is, those that act directly on the cause of the disease [9]. In particular, these are antiviral agents, as well as drugs that increase the intensity of the immune system.

Antiviral drugs

As an example, let’s take the well-known drug “Arbidol”. When exposed to influenza viruses, the drug suppresses their reproduction. According to research, the reproduction of virus A is reduced by 80%, B by 60% and C by 20% [10]. The effectiveness of the main active ingredient of the drug umifenovir has been repeatedly studied and confirmed by both Russian and international experts [11].

Antiviral drugs are developed for adults and children. In particular, children from 3 to 6 years old take Arbidol at a dose of 50 mg, from 6 to 12 years old - 100 mg, over 12 years old and adults - 200 mg per day for 5 days. The exact dosage in each specific case is determined by the doctor [12]. "Arbidol" is also available in powder form for the preparation of a suspension, which can be given to children from 2 years of age (single dose - 10 ml). Arbidol can also be taken to prevent viral diseases during epidemics or in contact with patients.

The drug has no side effects, but in rare cases it can cause allergic reactions [13]. The cost of Arbidol, depending on the form of release and dosage, starts at approximately 200 rubles [14].

Immunomodulatory drugs

The second important step in the flu treatment regimen is the use of drugs that stimulate the immune system. However, each of the medications listed below has its own characteristics.

• "Amiksin". Made on the basis of tiloron. This active substance stimulates the production of not one, but four types of interferons within the first 4 hours after taking the tablet. It is this mechanism that allows Amiksin to fight the virus not only during the progression of the disease (reproduction of the virus in cells, exit from cells), but also at the stage of spread of infection (attachment of viruses to cells, penetration into cells). That is why Amiksin not only shortens the period of illness with influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections [15], but is also an excellent means of prevention. Amiksin is approved for children aged 7 to 18 years, 60 mg once a day on the 1st, 2nd and 4th day from the start of treatment. For adults, a dose of 125 mg per day is recommended for the first two days of treatment, then 125 mg after 48 hours [16]. The drug is not prescribed if the patient has an individual intolerance to its components. If it is necessary to treat influenza and ARVI during pregnancy and lactation, you should carefully read the instructions. The cost of Amiksin, depending on the dosage, starts at approximately 550 rubles [17].
• "Ingavirin". It is often considered as an alternative to Amiksin, since both drugs have been on the market for a long time. However, they are not analogues: the main active ingredient of Ingavirin is vitaglutam. The spectrum of action of Ingavirin is influenza A and B viruses [18]. It is also indicated for adenovirus infection, parainfluenza, etc. [19]. For the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza, children aged 13 to 17 years are prescribed the drug at a dose of 60 mg once a day, adults - 90 mg once a day for 5-6 days [20]. During pregnancy and lactation, the use of Ingavirin is not recommended. Also, the drug is not prescribed if the patient has an individual intolerance to its components. The cost of Ingavirin, depending on the dosage, starts from 500 rubles [21].
• "Kagocel". It is made on the basis of natural raw materials, which are obtained from cotton seeds. It stimulates the formation of so-called late interferon in the body, which is a mixture of two types of interferons [22]. Experts note that when taking Kagocel, the symptoms of ARVI go away, and with timely initiation of treatment, the temperature of most patients normalizes already on the third day [23]. For the treatment of influenza and ARVI, children aged 3–6 years are prescribed 2 tablets of Kagocel (100 mg) in the first two days, then one tablet once a day. Children over 7 years of age are prescribed one tablet 3 times and 2 times a day, respectively. Adults are prescribed 2 tablets 3 times a day in the first two days, and one tablet 3 times a day in the next two days [24]. The cost of the Kagotsela course (2 packages) is about 550 rubles [25].
• "Cycloferon". It fights type A influenza viruses, has an anti-inflammatory effect and, like Kogacel, stimulates the production of only two types of interferons. The drug is prescribed for a single dose half an hour before meals. The dosage is calculated according to the following scheme: age 4-6 years - 1 tablet (150 mg), age from 6-11 years - 2 tablets, age from 12 years - 3 tablets [26]. The cost of “Cycoferon” (pack of 50 tablets) is about 800 rubles [27].

Types of influenza virus and their features

The main types of influenza are A, B, C. Each of them has its own characteristic features.
A specific characteristic of all species is the ability to mutate. The influenza virus itself is an RNA-containing infectious agent capable of remembering genetic codes at the level of ribonucleic acids. The types can be distinguished using analysis, since they have different amounts of protein compounds.

In addition to 3 types, there are 25 more subtypes of the disease, but only 5 of them are found in people.

Signs of the flu in adults are often similar to those of a cold, sore throat, sinusitis, or bronchitis.

Other illnesses are not as serious as the flu and can be treated on their own using antiviral or antibacterial medications. If influenza develops, you need to consult a doctor to determine the type of illness and prescribe comprehensive treatment.

Features of the course of the disease, symptoms and treatment of influenza depend on its type and form, to determine which you need to take tests and be examined by a doctor.

When diagnosing, there is no point in starting from the symptoms, because they are similar to colds, although they differ significantly depending on the form of the course.

Type A

Influenza A (avian) has a special molecular structure, which allows it to penetrate all tissues at the cellular level and poison them.

Although a person recovers and develops immunity, he can still get sick again and again due to the ability of the virus to mutate.

Symptoms caused by this type of virus:

• high temperature, rising to 40 ° C within an hour;
• the disease is accompanied by severe intoxication, so the whole body hurts - muscles, joints, and problems arise in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
• headache, chills, frost on the skin;
• loss of consciousness, dehydration;
• the throat begins to sore, there is pain when swallowing, clicking in the ears;
• irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes, discomfort occurs, especially when wearing contact lenses;
• lacrimation, photosensitivity.

In most cases, this type of disease negatively affects the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The first signs of the flu may be gas, bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea.

Then a dry cough occurs, attacks of which provoke vomiting and involuntary urination. Then a number of other symptoms arise (fever, sore throat, etc.).

To recognize a pathology, you need to know how it begins and take action at the first symptoms. It is necessary to call an ambulance or go to the doctor yourself (depending on the general health of the patient).

Virus A can infect not only people, but also some animals. People most often become infected from humans, although infection from cats or birds is possible.

The incubation period (from the virus entering the body until the onset of the main symptoms) is 2-4 days; with strong immunity, it can reach a week while the body tries to fight the viruses on its own.

They enter through the respiratory system and are absorbed into the blood through the mucous membrane. Then symptoms appear.

Treatment should be comprehensive, it is aimed at thinning the blood, lowering the temperature, and eliminating other symptoms (runny nose, cough).

For bird flu, you need to take neuraminidase inhibitors, which block the reproduction of viruses. A person taking such drugs does not spread the infection and is not dangerous to others.

Type B

Influenza B occurs exclusively in humans. This virus is much milder in terms of symptoms and complications than influenza A. It is not as contagious, so epidemics are smaller.

The first symptoms of the flu are fever, weakness, and decreased performance. With the type B virus, there is not always a cough, sore throat or sore throat. There are no pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, as is the case with bird flu.

There is mild intoxication, headache, chills due to fever. The flu has an acute onset, but symptoms subside in the first days, and because of this, the flu is often confused with a cold.

Body temperature rises sharply, but it quickly normalizes with the use of antipyretic or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The body has the ability to develop immunity to the influenza B virus, and it does not mutate as quickly as other types of this disease. In this regard, the disease mainly affects children who have not yet developed protective mechanisms.

The disease occurs in mild or moderate form. In patients with high immunity, the incubation period lasts an average of 3 days, and after a week full recovery occurs.

Type C

The symptoms of influenza type C are not well understood, and there is not enough evidence to fully describe this disease. It is only known that it passes more easily than the two previous types of pathology.

Also, only people can get sick; the infection does not spread to animals and birds.

Symptoms of influenza C in adults are similar to virus B. Body temperature rises, weakness, muscle pain, body aches, and headache occur. Not everyone has a cough, so its presence or absence is not taken into account when making a diagnosis.

It occurs in a mild form, sometimes there are practically no symptoms. That is, there may be mild signs of an infectious disease, but they go away on their own. If you don’t get tested, you may not even notice the beginning and end of the disease.

Causes of influenza

The causative agent of influenza is a virus of the orthomyxovirus family. Myxovirus Influenza (A, B, C). It is characterized by high contagiousness and rapid spread in a short time, which leads to the defeat of a large number of people. Epidemics usually occur in the autumn-winter period, when people's immune systems are weakened by vitamin deficiency and weather conditions.

The source of infection is a sick person who remains infectious to others for a week after the onset of influenza.

Clinical picture and severity of the disease

From the moment of infection until the first symptoms of the disease appear, it can take from three hours to three days, usually the incubation period lasts 1–2 days. The disease begins acutely, the first signs of influenza are a sharp rise in temperature and symptoms of intoxication. The patient may complain of general weakness, headache, and muscle pain. A runny nose and cough often occur; this condition lasts for 3–4 days, then, if there are no complications, the symptoms gradually decrease.

There are 3 degrees of severity of the disease.

With uncomplicated influenza, symptoms gradually decrease from 3–4 days of illness; by 7–10 days the patient recovers, but general weakness and fatigue may bother him for 2 weeks.

Symptoms and signs of influenza in adults

It usually takes 3-5 days from the moment of infection with the influenza virus to the appearance of the first clinical symptoms. The disease is characterized by an acute onset:

• body temperature rises - up to 38.5-39.0 degrees;
• muscle pain, body aches, weakness, pain in the back of the head appear;
• lacrimation and photophobia;
• chills, fever;
• nasal congestion and runny nose;
• cough - the first days are dry, paroxysmal, unproductive. Gradually, when coughing, sputum of a mucous or mucopurulent nature begins to be released;
• chest pain that gets worse when coughing;
• sore throat;
• hoarseness and hoarseness of voice.

In addition, the patient may experience nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain - this is due to poisoning of the body with toxins that the virus releases during its reproduction.

What is the flu

Influenza is an infectious disease and is caused by viruses type A, B and C. Symptoms, course and methods of treatment depend on the type of pathogen. This also determines how long the flu lasts.

In the early 20s there was the “Spanish” flu, which took the lives of more than 2 million people. After this, different types appeared, for example, “pork” or “bird”.

All differ in symptoms, causes, consequences and involve different methods of influencing pathogens.

The virus is often confused with a cold, which is why it is treated incorrectly. At this time, viruses multiply, the carrier infects others, and epidemics arise.

Therefore, it is recommended to visit a doctor at the first signs of the disease, who will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Flu symptoms:

1. The main symptom that manifests itself in any type of disease is an increase in body temperature. This is a natural reaction of the body that occurs when exposed to viruses. This is how he fights “uninvited guests.”
2. Influenza is an infectious disease that causes fever and severe headaches. With lightning-fast progression, the pain can be so severe that the patient cannot turn his head.
3. Intoxication leads to muscle pain and general weakness.
4. Runny nose, swelling of the nasopharynx, lungs, difficulty breathing.
5. Sore throat and cough appear when the mucous membrane is damaged by viruses.
6. There is burning and pain in the eyes.

Influenza is a virus that can develop in different ways and occur in several forms:

1. The mild form of the disease occurs with minimal symptoms. The temperature rises to no more than 38 °C. There is no cough or runny nose, the nasopharynx is slightly inflamed.
2. A mild virus is similar to a cold and presents with the same symptoms. At first, you feel weak and lack of strength, your temperature rises, your head hurts, and your eyes water.
3. A severe form of the disease is characterized by an increase in temperature to 40 °C. Severe headaches are accompanied by dizziness and nosebleeds. Vomiting and nausea occur.
4. The hypertoxic type of disease is dangerous and requires immediate hospitalization. The main symptoms are a sharp increase in body temperature up to 40 ° C, nausea, chills, vomiting. In addition, swelling of the brain is possible due to poor circulation. This type of pathology is fraught with stroke, damage to the central nervous system, or death. If the temperature does not drop at home, you cannot take risks; you must immediately call an ambulance.
5. The fulminant form of the disease develops according to its name - very quickly. All symptoms appear within a few hours. Pulmonary edema may develop and breathing becomes difficult. Patients with chronic diseases may experience bleeding. To avoid death, the patient needs emergency help.

The causes of influenza are exposure to infectious agents. It is caused only by viruses, unlike, for example, tonsillitis, which can develop under the influence of viruses, fungi or bacteria.

In most cases, infection can be transmitted through aerosols. It is also important to maintain hygiene, remembering that animals and birds can get sick with virus A.

Diagnosis of influenza

If the described symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible - this will help avoid complications.

A preliminary diagnosis is made to the patient based on complaints and physical examination:

• upon auscultation, wheezing is heard in the lungs - small and large-caliber, scattered, harsh breathing;
• pale skin;
• the pharynx is hyperemic and swollen.

To clarify the diagnosis and determine the type of influenza virus, the patient is prescribed a series of tests, which include a CBC (particular attention is paid to the indicators of leukocytes and platelets), a serological blood test (helps to detect antibodies to the influenza virus in the blood). The patient may also be prescribed tests such as enzyme immunoassay and PCR diagnostics. They are express methods and allow a patient to be diagnosed quickly and accurately. Based on the test results, the patient is prescribed adequate treatment.

How long do you have the flu?

Answers:

Lena

Treatment of influenza with the drug Theraflu - 5 days. During this time, a secondary infection usually occurs (not necessarily). The incubation period of influenza is 5-6 days. They usually stay on sick leave for a week. The doctor told us that if the temperature does not go away within 2 days, then SEE A DOCTOR URGENTLY!!!! Often, along with the flu (or instead of it), PNEUMONIA causes high fever! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!!!! GET TO THE DOCTOR URGENTLY!!! (I hope there is no need to write that pneumonia does not last long, 4-5 days and if left untreated leads to death....)

Marika

it depends on the immune system and proper treatment.

wbyte_k

2 weeks

Adema Nurzhanova

Personally, I was sick for 2 days and then you walk around for a long time with a nasty cough and runny nose... well, that’s okay :)

Zocchi

Ten days exactly. And then, depending on your luck.)

Small Scarlet

Maximum week. I advise you to immediately consult a doctor if you have not already done so...

At the same time, get tested for A H1N1

Angel in the flesh

10 days at least, the temperature should not be longer than 3 days, then if it exists, then this is already a complication, you need a doctor who will prescribe the correct use of antibiotics

Porsche

depending on how quickly immunity to this flu develops, it depends on how many vitamins you take to boost immunity

Dmitriy

A day is enough for me to recover from my illness!! ! If you take it on time...

Treatment of influenza in adults

In order for the outcome of the disease to be favorable and complications of influenza not to arise, the patient must strictly adhere to the doctor’s recommendations. Typically, the treatment regimen for influenza in adults is as follows:

• bed rest - since the flu is accompanied by severe signs of intoxication and weakness of the body, the patient must remain in bed. Failure to comply with bed rest is fraught with the development of complications in the form of pneumonia, pleurisy, endocarditis, pyelonephritis and other pathologies.
• Drinking regime - to accelerate the removal of toxins from the body, the patient is recommended to drink plenty of warm alkaline drinks (teas, decoctions, compotes, fruit drinks, still mineral water).
• Drug treatment - to destroy the influenza virus, the patient is recommended to take antiviral drugs, for example, Arbidol, Zanamivir, Groprinosin. The dose of the medicine is selected individually for each individual patient, the duration of therapy is at least 5 days.
• Symptomatic therapy - includes antipyretic drugs, vasoconstrictor nasal drops, cough relief medications. Antipyretics should be taken when the temperature rises above 38.5 degrees, but if there are any severe diseases of the nervous system or a history of febrile seizures, then the temperature can be lowered until the thermometer reaches 38 degrees.

Vasoconstrictor nasal drops relieve swelling of the nasal mucosa and make breathing easier. For adults, it is better to take drugs based on Oxymetazoline or Xylometazoline - they are not addictive and do not dry out the mucous membranes when the drops are used correctly.

Expectorants help thin the viscous sputum and speed its removal from the respiratory tract. Gerbion syrups with plantain, Prospan, Alteyka help with dry and wet coughs - they contain herbal ingredients and are well tolerated by patients.

If a bacterial infection occurs during the course of the flu or complications arise, then at the discretion of the doctor, antibacterial drugs are added to the therapy. Self-medication in such situations is unacceptable, since an antibiotic for a virus can only do harm.

How many days is flu treated? And how dangerous is it if it is not treated?

Answers:

Anna Matveeva

Antibiotics - under no circumstances! They do not act on viruses, only on bacteria, and the flu, like any “cold,” is a viral infection. Antipyretics (aspirin, paracetamol, Fervex, Coldrex and other advertising delights) - only if the temperature is above 38.5. In all other cases, you will create a protracted course of the disease. As soon as possible, start taking immune stimulants, preferably echinacea preparations; the pharmacy has immunal and echinacea tincture. It is the same. On the first day, take half a teaspoon every two hours, then three times a day. If you catch a viral disease in the first hours, you can simply cut it off, but if you catch it later, you will still recover much faster and without complications. But you’ll honestly get sick for about a day while your body recovers and the virus is destroyed. If you have no appetite, it is better to fast, because at high temperatures, food is not digested, but only poisons the body. But drinking should be plentiful - up to 3 liters per day. By the way, alcohol enhances the toxic effect of the virus, especially the flu. The temperature is usually high, especially if without treatment or with attempts to bring it down, it lasts for 3-4 days. Untreated influenza is dangerous due to the addition of bacterial complications and the development of bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, otitis media, etc. Then antibiotics are in full swing.

-Tori-

Well, if it’s the flu, and not a regular acute respiratory infection, then this will last for a long time... You definitely need to sit at home for 10 days, take antibiotics. dangerous with complications

Nadin

My son's untreated flu was complicated by otitis media and a hospital stay.

Olga

Our whole family has also been suffering from the flu for six days now (the temperature has actually dropped), and some have been suffering for a month. Depends on the immunity of each organism separately.

Vladimir Vladimirovich

With inpatient treatment, the flu is cured in about 7 days, but if it is not treated, it is fraught with complications that may appear in the future.

PS

Complications can be very dangerous: from pneumonia, sinusitis to encephalitis, meningitis and myocarditis. So treat yourself conscientiously, with bed rest, at home until complete recovery. Regarding the duration: as they say, with treatment it lasts 7 days, without treatment a week

Larisa Lukjanenko-Meitner

For at least a week, drink a lot of warm drinks, tea, cranberry juice. Chicken broth is very good - anti-inflammatory. If you don’t complete the treatment, you can get a complication in any organ!

Olga Litvinenko

if you are seriously concerned about complications, then stay at home, lead a measured lifestyle, since the flu is not a joke, there are many consequences if you neglect it. health is very expensive. Bless you! O.M.

Possible complications of influenza

If the patient is treated independently, does not comply with bed rest, or begins therapy with antibiotics, then the risk of complications increases:

• the addition of a secondary bacterial infection - against the background of it, purulent sinusitis, otitis, inflammation of the paranasal sinuses and frontal bone develops;
• pneumonia;
• pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis;
• heart diseases – myocarditis, endocarditis, pericarditis;
• bronchial obstruction.

To avoid the development of such complications of influenza, it is important to strictly follow all the specialist’s recommendations and, if the doctor insists on hospitalization, then under no circumstances refuse.

Fighting the flu

Those who want to know how to cure the flu in one day and hope for it should note that this is impossible. You can significantly alleviate the condition and avoid possible complications.

To do this, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

1. You should avoid any physical activity and reduce your activity as much as possible, since bed rest is indicated for flu.
2. It is recommended to drink plenty of warm liquids throughout the day. This could be tea with cranberries or lemon, blackcurrant juice, herbal infusion or compote.
3. It is necessary to keep the lower extremities warm at all times, even in case of high temperature and fever.
4. Ventilation will help reduce the concentration of the virus in the air and, accordingly, make breathing easier. This should be done several times a day.
5. The patient must be isolated. He should have everything of his own: room, dishes, bedding.
6. Treatment should be not only symptomatic, but also antiviral. Complex therapy will make it possible to reduce the risk of complications.
7. It is necessary to pay due attention to humidifying the air in the patient's room. This will generally make his condition easier. If you don't have a room humidifier, you can use a wet towel that you hang on the headboard.

Following these simple recommendations and timely treatment will help you quickly cure the flu at home, although not in 1 day, but much faster than usual.

Flu prevention

The main method of preventing influenza during the epidemic season is vaccination. It is best to get a flu shot a few months before the wave of illness, so that the body has time to produce antibodies and form immunity. Vaccination is especially important for weakened people at risk - children, the elderly, people with chronic diseases of the nasopharynx and respiratory tract, who are often ill for a long time.

Nonspecific methods for preventing the disease include:

• regular ventilation and wet cleaning of the premises;
• walks in the open air;
• enriching the diet with onions, garlic, citrus fruits;
• active lifestyle and giving up bad habits.

During an outbreak of influenza, it is recommended to avoid places where large numbers of people gather, and if this is not possible, then wear a disposable mask or cotton-gauze bandage.

How many days do you have the flu? How long is the flu contagious?

Well, it has begun: you feel unwell, your temperature has risen, your throat hurts and your nose is running. “I think I'm sick. Should I go to work or maybe it’s better to call and stay home? How many days have they been sick with the flu, what to tell their bosses and how to quickly get rid of this infection, after all, the child is small, you don’t want him to get sick too,” you think.

Anyone can catch a cold easily, but recovery will depend on many factors. And first of all - from yourself. Let's figure out what the flu is and how long it will last.

What is the flu

We often use this word to refer to any cold. But in fact, influenza is an acute respiratory disease caused by a virus of the same name, which is transmitted from person to person or from animal to person through airborne droplets. The influenza virus has more than 2,000 forms, and more and more new strains appear every year. Therefore, in order to answer the question of how many days people suffer from the flu, you first need to find out what type of virus was the causative agent, and whether it is the flu at all. There are more than 200 types of diseases whose symptoms are very similar to the flu.

How does this happen

There is no person in the world who has immunity to the flu. Everyone gets sick, regardless of age, gender and place of residence. To become infected with it, you also do not need to have special talents - you just need to get to the place where the carrier of the virus was in front of you (or next to you).

A sick person coughs, sneezes or simply talks, and at the same time up to 90 million invisible microdroplets are released into the air, and they spread over a distance of up to 10 meters. Then the healthy person inhales the contaminated air, and with it the tiny influenza virus. It settles on the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs and begins to actively reproduce. It destroys cells, they die, and decay products poison the body, which means they reduce the level of its defense - immunity. Namely, he is the main guardian and defender of health and also plays a decisive role in how many days certain people suffer from the flu.

12 hours after the virus enters the body, the disease enters the acute stage, from that moment the person becomes a carrier of the virus, that is, infectious to others. It is especially important to begin treatment from the very first hours. The earlier the disease is detected, the easier it will be to fight it.

How to identify a virus

In order to understand what exactly you are sick with, how the disease will progress, how to treat it, and how many days the flu is contagious, you should find out what type of virus you got. They are divided into 3 types:

1. A is the heaviest. It affects not only people, but also animals. These include “swine” and “bird” flu. The slightest outbreak easily turns into an epidemic or pandemic. The body temperature rises with lightning speed to 40 degrees and above, it is difficult to bring it down. Hallucinations, vomiting, and convulsions may occur. Causes severe consequences. Seeing a doctor is essential, as deaths occur.
2. B – moderate severity, only people suffer from it. The temperature rises from 38-39.5 degrees. The patient feels chills, pain appears in the eyes, muscles and bones of the body. The nasopharynx and throat swell, the voice changes, a cough and runny nose appear. Dangerous for small children - vomiting and diarrhea may occur. Could easily develop into an epidemic. Causes complications.
3. C is the mildest form and the least studied. Many suffer from such flu on their feet, the temperature rises to 38 degrees or remains virtually unchanged, and the symptoms are mild. Does not cause severe consequences or outbreaks of epidemics.

Distinguishing influenza from ARVI

The disease has similar symptoms to many viral diseases, so it is important to know how exactly the flu differs from them. How long ARVI or any other virus lasts should be determined based on each specific case.

How to distinguish the flu:

1. Rapid feeling of illness. Often a person can even name where, when and who infected him.
2. The first sign is a sharp rise in temperature and chills. ARVI usually begins with a stuffy nose and sore throat, sneezing or coughing.
3. The body is poisoned by toxins: pain throughout the body, aches, photophobia, and the whites of the eyes turn red.
4. A debilitating cough appears only after a few days.

How long are you destined to be sick?

How many days do you have the flu? For most, complete recovery from the disease occurs within a week or two. But some people can feel healthy as early as 4-5 days. This state is deceptive. The disease actually continues, and the body is exhausted. And even if you are at that stage of the flu when your body has already begun to produce antibodies, you are very likely to get sick again, but having become infected with a different strain. At times when your immunity is weakened, there is a high probability of acquiring a completely different concomitant disease. Therefore, it is better to postpone all activities, trips and going to work for at least 10 days.

When will I stop being contagious?

The most dangerous period is the first day. Therefore, if you suddenly feel unwell at work, ask for time off and go to the doctor. You will not only catch the flu at the very beginning, but also protect your colleagues from an unpleasant fate.

How long is the flu contagious? Until the immune system begins to actively produce antibodies. This happens on the fifth day from the moment of illness. But we must remember that all cases are purely individual. If you suffer from illnesses related to the immune system, have recently had surgery, or have a chronic illness, your recovery may take longer. The flu is more difficult for older people and young children.

To speed up the moment when the flu ceases to be contagious, you need to help yourself and your body. The patient releases a colossal amount of virus into the air, so the room should be ventilated more often and wet cleaning should be carried out. Taking vitamins, antiviral drugs and fresh fruits will certainly help in the fight against the disease. Try to drink more fluid, it will flush toxins from the body, which means recovery will come faster. Be attentive to yourself and your loved ones, and then most health troubles will be avoided.

fb.ru

Can you get the flu from a dog?

Canine influenza viruses are very similar to human influenza viruses, and have almost identical symptoms, including runny nose, cough, fatigue and loss of appetite. The severity of canine influenza can range from mild illness to severe pneumonia and sometimes death. However, most dogs recover within two to three weeks. Canine influenza can easily spread among animals in parks, kennels and shelters through coughing, sneezing or contact with contaminated objects.

There are two different canine influenza viruses, H3N8 and H3N2. These two strains were responsible for a 2019 outbreak in Chicago that affected more than 1,000 dogs, killing 5 of them.

Scientists say that so far there have been no cases of human infection with dog flu, but this does not mean that they cannot happen. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza viruses are constantly changing, so the dog flu virus may have mutated enough to become infectious to humans. Fortunately, experts say that the likelihood of such a development is negligible.

How long does the flu virus live indoors?

How long does the influenza virus live indoors, when and where can you get infected with it? These are very serious questions, especially when it comes to the effectiveness of preventive measures during constant contact with patients. Each person daily has many contacts with carriers of certain viruses and infections. And the lack of attention to such issues is understandable, because not everyone who has such contacts becomes infected. Nevertheless, everyone needs to know about this to maintain their health. After all, influenza is a dangerous virus, as it causes many complications at any age.

Influenza is a separate and specific type of virus. Perhaps one of the most common among both people and animals. In modern medicine, only three types of influenza are known, which are designated A, B and C. They differ in the degree of complexity of the disease and prevalence. For example, type A is considered more serious, and not only people suffer from it. This species is quickly spreading across cities and countries. And types B and C are considered less dangerous; only people get sick from them.

How long does the influenza virus live?

Before getting an answer to such a question, it is important to understand that each virus and infection can exist differently on different surfaces. For example, in the air itself, the influenza virus lives on average up to 9 hours, and it gets there only by airborne droplets. But, besides this, in almost every room, as a rule, you can find a whole variety of household items. Thanks to this, it only takes a few minutes for a healthy person to become infected with influenza through the mucous membranes. This is one of the most common ways of contracting this disease.

So, the influenza virus, falling by airborne droplets onto different surfaces, can live:

• up to 15 hours on the skin;
• up to 2 weeks in the sputum of a sick person;
• up to 10 days on glass surfaces;
• up to 2 days on metal and plastic objects;
• up to 10 on fabric products;
• up to 12 hours on paper.

With the flu, a huge amount of virus is observed in the body of a sick person. At the same time, against the background of general weakness and fever, he begins to sneeze and cough. This is what puts people around you at risk of getting the flu. When you sneeze and cough, large and small particles of saliva containing the influenza virus inevitably get into the air. Large particles immediately settle on the surface in the room, spreading up to 3 meters around and being less dangerous. Small ones, on the contrary, stay in the air for a long time and are carried by the wind or draft for several hundred meters.

Why is not everyone susceptible to infection?

It's no secret that not all people become infected with the flu through constant contact with sick people. And here human immunity plays a big role. As you know, the higher it is, the more resilient the person is. When any virus enters the body, an immune response immediately occurs. If the immune system is strong, then most likely this virus will be suppressed. If your immune system is weakened, you can easily get sick. This is how the immune system of living beings in nature reacts to any invasion of the body. Although it is believed that in situations with viruses and bacteria, a strong immune system does not always cope.

This only happens when the amount of influenza virus entering the body does not reach a certain quantitative limit. In such situations, the immune system cannot suppress the virus, and the human body becomes ill. This can also occur with hypothermia, chronic diseases of the nose and throat. Moisture of the mucous membranes plays an important role. For example, a very dry nasal mucosa can become a favorable environment for viruses. But this can have its advantages: after each illness, the immune system itself becomes stronger.

Flu prevention

Prevention of the influenza virus must be carried out not only in direct contact with sick people. Measures to ensure it should always be taken, especially during periods of cold weather and epidemics. After all, the influenza virus lives indoors for quite a long time.

The most important rules are to ventilate the rooms where patients are staying and to observe the rules of basic hygiene.

Although the premises must always be ventilated, both in winter and summer, even if no one is sick. It is necessary to moisturize the mucous membranes of the nose and ensure that there are no dry crusts on them.

The room where the flu patient is located should be periodically wet cleaned. At the same time, you should not get carried away with disinfectants. They can cause allergies, which will lead to drying of the mucous membranes in the body. A sick person needs to take care of the people around him and be responsible for their health. When sneezing and coughing, cover your nose and mouth using a handkerchief, special bags, masks, or at least cover yourself with your hands. It is important to understand that with the flu, as with other viral diseases, the period of mass spread of infection passes precisely when the state of health improves, but there is still sneezing and coughing.

respiratoria.ru

Does the flu need to be treated?

Of course, such a serious illness as the flu requires treatment, although it is mistakenly believed that one can do without it: within a week, all symptoms disappear without the use of medications. However, in this case, the likelihood of worsening your situation only increases, and then you definitely cannot do without the help of a doctor, and sometimes even hospitalization. Therefore, it is better to start treatment immediately when the first symptoms appear, and this should be done with the permission and special recommendations of the doctor. Only a specialist will be able to make an accurate diagnosis, determine the type of causative virus and prescribe an appropriate therapeutic course with the appropriate medications.

How is the flu treated?

For the fastest and most effective relief from flu symptoms, antiviral drugs are considered the most effective medications. They are best taken at the very beginning of the disease. In combination with a complex of medications, the practice of traditional medicine is also recommended. Due to a strong viral infection, you won’t be able to limit yourself to just one thing: as usual, drugs fight the pathogens themselves in the affected body, and folk remedies are aimed at maintaining the medicinal effect of drugs, mitigating their effect on the kidneys and stomach, as well as strengthening general immunity.

Prevention

Everyone knows that specific prevention of influenza can only be achieved by vaccination. Nonspecific preventive methods include hardening, balanced nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle.

Prevention of influenza with folk remedies can also be carried out with laundry soap. All you need is foam. Your nose may tingle, but your protection against the flu is reliable.

The most popular folk preventative against influenza is garlic. During the cold season and during the epidemic, you should eat 2-3 cloves of garlic daily.

Traditional medicine for the prevention of influenza also recommends:

1. Inhalations with essential oil (fir, eucalyptus) or potatoes.
2. Foot baths with mustard added.
3. Drinks with viburnum, rose hips, tea with ginger, cranberry or lingonberry juice.
4. Daily use 2 tbsp. natural honey.

Prevention using folk remedies is not a one-time procedure; it requires daily protective measures. Only in this case can you count on its effect.

It is more reliable to carry out traditional treatment of influenza and use folk remedies for colds under the supervision of a doctor. By self-medicating, you may not recognize the development of complications in a timely manner, which is not always easy to cope with.

Use of drugs

So how to treat ARVI and influenza? Drug therapy is often used to eliminate these diseases. It allows not only to eliminate symptoms, but also to suppress the underlying causes of the disease. But you should still consult a doctor, he will be able to select the most effective and efficient medications.

Drug treatment of influenza and ARVI in adults consists of three main measures:

• annual vaccination;
• use of drugs with antiviral effects;
• use of IFN inducers (Kagocel).

Treatment of colds is usually performed using etiotropic, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification therapy. It is based on the use of various medications - chemotherapy drugs, antihistamines, cough medicines, expectorants.

Are antibiotics needed?

Many people often ask how to treat influenza and ARVI in adults, but only the attending physician can answer this question. When bacterial complications develop, antibacterial drugs are usually prescribed. But they must be taken only in accordance with the rules specified in the instructions.

Antibiotics cannot cure the flu; they are used only to suppress complications. They help with severe community-acquired pneumonia, severe cough, severe respiratory failure, uremia, leukopenia, hypotension.

So what antibacterial medications are prescribed for influenza and ARVI in adults? Let's look at the most effective ones:

1. Cefepime.
2. Ertapenem in combination with macrolides (intravenously).
3. Moxifloxacin.
4. Meropenem.
5. Imipenem.

Additionally, drugs such as Oseltamivir or Zanamivir can be administered to antibacterial therapy. The duration of treatment depends on the age of the patient, the individual characteristics of the body, and the degree of neglect of the disease.

Use of antiviral drugs

Antiviral drugs for the treatment of influenza and ARVI in adults help alleviate the condition and eliminate unpleasant symptoms. Often during these diseases, interferons are prescribed, which are part of the group of drugs with antiviral effects.

Let us highlight the most effective antiviral drugs for the treatment of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections, which belong to interferons:

1. Leukocyte human interferon . This medicine is available in powder form. It dissolves in water, which should be at room temperature. It is recommended to be taken as part of therapeutic and preventive therapy for influenza and ARVI.
2. Grippferon . This medicine contains recombinant human interferon alpha. This remedy must be used internally. Cannot be used while pregnant or if you have an individual intolerance.
3. Viferon . Contains alpha interferon. Available in the form of rectal suppositories. This remedy is suitable not only for adults; it can be included as part of the treatment of influenza and ARVI in children. During pregnancy during colds, it can be used for a period of 3-4 months.

Effective treatment of influenza and ARVI in adults should include the use of other antiviral agents - interferon inducers, cyclic amines.

Let's consider several effective medications that are often included in antiviral therapy:

1. Amiksin . This remedy is used in the treatment and prevention of influenza, colds, and acute respiratory viral infections. Before taking it, you should consider the instructions for use, because this medicine has contraindications, and side effects may occur during its use.
2. Arbidol . When used, the activity of interferons is stimulated and cellular immunity is strengthened. It is not recommended to use in case of individual intolerance or in the presence of somatic diseases.
3. Tamiflu . The drug is available in two forms - in the form of tablets and powder for the preparation of a suspension. Suitable for adults and children.

Use of symptomatic drugs

To accurately determine how to treat influenza and ARVI, it is worth paying attention to the nature of the disease. Often, during these ailments, symptomatic medications are prescribed, the action of which is aimed at eliminating the main signs of the pathological process - pain in the joints and muscles, high fever, cough, headache, runny nose.

In order for treatment of influenza and ARVI to be effective, it is necessary to use drugs from the list below:

• medications with antipyretic effects based on paracetamol and ibuprofen - Paracetamol, Nurofen, Ibuprofen;
• drugs with anti-inflammatory effects - Septefril. They are used to eliminate pain in the throat area;
• vasoconstrictor drugs - Galazolin. This group includes various drops and sprays that treat a runny nose and restore full breathing;
• drugs with antihistamine effects - Suprastin. Eliminates swelling of the nasal mucosa;
• medicines for cough symptoms - ACC.

It is worth noting! These are not all medications for ARVI and influenza that can be prescribed to adults. They should be selected only by a doctor, depending on the symptoms and severity of the disease. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate.

Vitamin complexes

To quickly overcome influenza and ARVI, treatment should include various vitamin complexes. They will be able to strengthen the immune system and increase the body's protective properties.

So how to treat influenza and acute respiratory viral infections in order to increase immunity and resistance? Consider popular vitamin complexes:

• Theraflu immuno . This drug contains ascorbic acid, echinacea extract, and zinc. Available in powder form, which is immediately poured into the oral cavity. It is recommended to use when the first symptoms of a cold appear, as well as as part of preventive therapy;
• Will direct . This complex contains vitamin C, A, zinc, and plant extracts. Boosts the immune system, speeds up recovery;
• Multi-Tabs Immuno Plus . This remedy is a multivitamin complex that strengthens the body and is an excellent prevention against colds.

Folk remedies for ARVI

In the collection of folk wisdom there are many ways to treat a disease associated with an infection that affects the respiratory tract. This is the use of decoctions and infusions from various medicinal plants:

• chamomile;
• peppermint;
• St. John's wort;
• linden or currant leaves;
• rosehip;
• viburnum;
• calendula flowers.

To relieve symptoms, traditional medicine offers simple and effective recipes:

1. An excellent antipyretic remedy is tea with raspberry jam. In winter, finely chopped raspberry branches can be used for this purpose.
2. A simple remedy to relieve a runny nose and eliminate a sore throat is a saline solution. It’s not difficult to prepare: add 1 tsp to 150 ml of warm boiled water. sea ​​or table salt. The solution is more effective if you add 1 drop of iodine to it.
3. Rubbing the extremities with vinegar has long been used to reduce fever.
4. Strong chicken broth helps restore the strength of a sick person.
5. Eating onions and garlic will be an excellent preventive measure for healthy household members.

It should be remembered that the use of folk recipes is an integral part of traditional medicine. Their use must be agreed with the attending physician.

Prevention of infection

It is not true. The hallmark of influenza is its variability. The virus is constantly mutating, so those who got sick or were in contact with the virus last year may get sick this year.

If a large number of people in one group are infected, quarantine is prescribed.

But even if no quarantine is prescribed (as a rule, such decisions are made by the management of the enterprise and, as one can easily assume, they often try to exploit the team “to the last”), still with the initial symptoms of the disease.

Those who have not yet gotten sick should not forget that infection threatens them at any time, and therefore it would not be superfluous to follow at least the basic preventive rules:

• avoid contact, if possible, with infected colleagues and clients;
• if contact is inevitable, use a gauze bandage and stay no closer than one and a half meters from the patient;
• ventilate the room more often;
• carry out wet cleaning;
• consume as many vitamins as possible;
• to harden;
• strengthen the immune system in every possible way.

Regular wet cleaning is necessary to prevent flu

Of course, during the contagious period, a sick person needs to stay in isolated and as comfortable conditions as possible.

Bed rest is observed by the patient until the time when appetite and temperature normalize.

Failure to comply with home isolation and active activity of the infected person surrounded by other people increases the likelihood of mass infection.

In a short period of time, a person with the flu can infect a huge number of people, which means it is extremely dangerous!

It is necessary to know not only how many days a person is contagious with the flu, but also how he manages to transmit his infection, spreading it around.

During talking, coughing, and sneezing, an infectious field with microscopic mucus forms around the patient.

The mucous membranes (both in the nose and mouth) are the “entry gate” into the human body for viral infection.

This means that pathogenic microorganisms, first of all, settle and multiply on them.

The virus is insidious and enters the human body in different ways, although it multiplies exclusively in the respiratory system. You can catch influenza bacteria from someone else's cough, contact with contaminated objects, using a towel in a public place, or touching banknotes.

Why does the virus spread in winter? This is simply the period of greatest crowding of people in a confined space. In addition, in cold conditions the virus hangs in the air longer. Already one day before the first symptoms, a person becomes infectious and remains so for another five days. During this period, fever, muscle pain, and dry cough appear. General weakness may occur. All symptoms do not have to be present; they can appear together or separately.

A medical examination allows you to identify the period of the disease, but the doctor himself must be careful, and at the appointment you should pay attention to his approach to the matter. A doctor wearing gloves and a protective mask? Then he insures himself against the virus. He will probably examine the tonsils, listen for wheezing in the chest, after which he will traditionally prescribe a course of antibiotics and warming.

• Through the respiratory organs
• From the patient through physical contact (handshake or kiss)
• Through objects and things with which the patient had contact (linen, dishes, door handles, etc.)
• Through food from the table at which the patient was sitting, this food can become a source of ARVI.
• Animals can be carriers of infection

Infection with ARVI will not always happen; it all depends on how strong a person’s immunity is. If it is weakened, then the likelihood of contracting an infection will be high.

In the fall, during times of stress and vitamin deficiency, a person’s immunity weakens, so it is so important to strengthen it. The drug is completely natural and allows you to recover from colds in a short time.

It has expectorant and bactericidal properties. Strengthens the protective functions of the immune system, perfect as a prophylactic. I recommend.

Definition of disease

Influenza is a special acute respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus. Currently, there are several types: A, B and C, which in turn have different strains that are prone to mutation.

Various viral diseases caused by other pathogens are often mistakenly called influenza. They actually have many similar symptoms. It is impossible to distinguish them at home, which is why a full diagnosis of such a disease and diagnosis can only be entrusted to specialists who will determine the type of pathogen using laboratory tests.

Man's friend interferon

The human body itself is capable of protecting itself from viruses, because the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx is a natural barrier to pathogens. It helps cells not to accept “uninvited guests,” and interferon is “responsible” for additional protection in the body.

Interferons are a group of low molecular weight proteins that are found in the human body, taking part in the functioning of the immune system. Interferons are released by cells of the immune system in response to the penetration of a microbe. Interferons first became known in the middle of the last century, thanks to the British researcher A. Isaac and his colleague from Switzerland, Dr. D. Lindemann, who conducted experiments on laboratory mice infected with the virus. Around the same time, the antiviral effect of interferons was established. Scientists have noticed that cells infected with the influenza virus begin to produce a certain protein that prevents the microbe from multiplying further. It was then that it became clear that interferon is one of the main “defensive factors” in the human body.

However, a diseased cell is not always able to produce interferon, so it is very important to help the mucous membrane maintain its protective functions. This is not easy to do in a modern city. The mucous membrane is very “capricious”, and a tiny injury is enough to damage it. Therefore, competent support and assistance in protecting the epithelium of the nasopharynx is necessary for everyone who leads an active lifestyle. After all, no matter how hard the immune system tries, under the influence of external unfavorable factors and minor injuries to the mucous membrane, it becomes weaker. Not only viruses during the cold season, but also polluted and excessively dry air on city streets and smoking indoors can cause injury to the mucous membrane. The nasopharynx can also be damaged by too hot food or drinks, cigarette smoke, or drinking alcohol. In the life of an active child there are additional dangers - the possibility of a collision, falling, or getting a foreign object into the nasopharynx.

It is necessary to remember about preventive measures to preserve the “functionality” of the nasopharynx: regular ventilation of rooms, maintaining the necessary humidity in the room, especially during the heating season, daily walks and physical mobility.

Cough preparations for influenza and ARVI

There is no need to restrain the urge to cough; use remedies to get rid of it. First, it is necessary to ensure the removal and then dilution of sputum. Thanks to this, the cough will develop from dry to wet, and recovery will come faster. The medications for influenza and ARVI presented below relieve symptoms in adults. We will present a list of the best; please check the instructions for the possibility of treating children.

The best medicines:

• “ACC” - a mucolytic aimed at removing mucus; it is more advisable to use effervescent tablets for a week (if taken 3 times a day);
• “Bromhexine” is an antitussive and expectorant for children and adults, it quickly copes with sputum, you need to take 1-2 tablets about 3 times a day (course - from 3 days);
• "Ambroxol" - the drug is considered inexpensive, but very effective, it is taken for 5 days up to 3 times a day;
• “Mukaltin” - a herbal remedy is usually prescribed for coughing, when sputum is difficult to separate, you need to take the medicine for 10 days three times a day;
• licorice syrup - all-natural flu medications with a mucolytic effect are gaining increasing popularity (syrup is one of these);
• "Gelisal" - based on ivy extract, does not contain sugar, dyes and alcohol.

Many of these medications must only be prescribed by a doctor, so be careful when self-medicating.

Flu is not a cold!

When talking about how long it takes to treat the flu, do not confuse this serious illness with a common cold.

In this case - unlike many colds - the body will need help to cope with the virus. Even a strong organism may not have enough of its own strength and immunity for this.

Although the main symptoms of these ailments are certainly similar, viral strains of influenza are prone to regular mutations and some of them become the culprits of entire epidemics (when a large number of people fall ill at the same time in one area).

Among other things, treating a viral infection is harder and longer.

At the same time, you need to be prepared for possible complications both during illness and after recovery.

Statistics, by the way, show high rates of child mortality due to influenza.

In such cases, the question - how long does this illness last in children - simply loses its meaning.

If left untreated, the flu can be life-threatening.

One of the main distinguishing features of influenza infection is its spontaneous onset and rapid development . Regardless of how long this disease lasts, it begins quite suddenly: even if a couple of hours ago a person’s health was excellent, after infection it becomes terrible, the temperature rises, and it is difficult to get up from the couch.

People frantically begin to take medications and scour the Internet in search of an answer to the question: “When will the flu go away?”

They will not find a definite answer there - for this purpose, you should at least see a doctor and start suitable treatment as soon as possible. The sooner this is done, the sooner you will be able to cope with the disease.

During epidemic activity, remember the importance of following infection prevention measures!

As soon as initial symptoms are noted (even if these are dubious and unverified suspicions), consult a doctor. This is the only way to speed up recovery and avoid possible complications.

How long can you be sick?

The insidiousness of the flu lies in the fact that a person infected with this virus poses a danger of infecting other people already on the first day, even if the incubation period is still ongoing (and symptoms have not appeared that would make it possible to diagnose the disease).

That is why it is recommended to contact a medical specialist at the initial suspicion of a cold - it’s good if it’s just an acute respiratory infection, but it could also be the flu or some other acute respiratory viral infection.

On average, people get the flu two or three times a year.

Other colds - more often.

Although, if you follow preventive measures, get vaccinated a month before the epidemic, harden yourself and protect yourself in every possible way, you can live 12 months without ever getting sick.

But the duration of this illness largely depends on how correctly you treat it.

“How long can you be sick?” - people tired of the disease ask, but there is no need to rush to stop the fight against the virus even when the main symptoms have begun to subside.

Remember that after an illness there can be various complications, and in addition, the body needs rehabilitation, that is, it needs to regain its strength.

Do not be put off by the long duration of treatment, since it is necessary.

The main thing is to stop the further spread of the infection and its development, and, if possible, avoid complications.

To reduce the likelihood of infection, do not forget about vaccination

The flu goes away quickly when the treatment course can be started in a timely manner.

But even if you are late, do not panic, but still start treatment, having first visited a therapist.

Medicines

In order to recover quickly, a person is ready to take all possible medications. Treatment of a person with the flu involves eliminating the unpleasant symptoms of this infection.

What remedies will help fight the flu?

1. To reduce very high body temperature, you can use drugs containing ibuprofen, paracetamol, nimesulide (Nurofen, Panadol, Paracetamol, Nimesil). You should not use products containing aspirin to avoid causing stomach bleeding. In addition, you can use complex formulations containing several components at once, in the form of paracetamol, phenylephrine, ascorbic acid (Coldrex, Rinza, Fervex). The main thing is not to lower the thermometer readings when they do not reach 38 degrees (provided that the person does not have diseases when body temperature should not be allowed to rise). This is an indicator of the active work of the immune system to produce interferon, substances that will fight the virus.
2. To improve the body's immune response, you can use immunomodulators that have the ability to increase the amount of interferon produced (Arbidol, Grippferon, Aflubin, Viferon). These drugs are also allowed to be used for preventive purposes, the main thing is not to use them for a long time so that your own immunity does not stop working correctly.
3. To get rid of the unpleasant symptom of nasal congestion, you can use vasoconstrictor drops Otrivin, Nazivin, Vibrocil. They will eliminate swelling of the mucous membrane and facilitate nasal breathing. To combat bacterial infection, you can add Isofra, Sialor and Pinosol.
4. Sprays Hexoral, Ingalipt, dissolving tablets Grammidin, Strepsils will help reduce discomfort in the larynx.
5. Gerbion syrup, Doctor MOM, Mucaltin tablets will help relieve dry cough and improve sputum discharge.

Treatment of influenza with folk remedies

Alternative traditional medicine has already become firmly established in practice. Many patients are supporters of treating influenza and ARVI with folk remedies. Others do not always have the means to purchase medicines at the pharmacy and are forced to use folk advice.

Traditional methods of treatment have been tested for many generations . Most often, folk remedies for the flu are plants, foods, or common everyday substances. Recipes for folk remedies for flu or colds can be found in abundance on the Internet.

Some of the traditional medicine tips against influenza:

1. At the first manifestations of the flu, you should cut a large onion, place it in a cup and hold the cup in front of you for several minutes, inhaling the onion vapor. Repeat the procedure several times a day.
2. Grind pistachio kernels (2-3 tablespoons) to powder, pour boiling water (1.5 cups), leave for half an hour, shaking the jar periodically. Take 2 tbsp before meals. 4 rubles/day.
3. Pour a handful of finely chopped currant branches with water (1 liter), cook over low heat for 4 hours. Before going to bed, drink 2 cups. warm broth (can be sweetened).
4. Grind 100 g of washed fresh pine needles, pour in 1 liter of boiling water, bring to a boil. Leave to infuse for up to 2 hours, strain, take 1/2 cup. three times a day, adding 1 tbsp. honey An infusion rich in vitamin C can be used by children.
5. Grind 1/4 cup. ginger, add 1 cup. honey, cook over low heat. Add 0.5-1 tsp per serving of tea. mixtures.
6. Wash the onion without peeling it, add water, add sugar (50g), cook over low heat for half an hour. After cooling, strain and drink 1 tbsp half an hour before meals, 4-5 r. in a day.
7. Grind the fruits of viburnum, elderberries, cranberries and brew and drink like tea.

Not everyone remembers the period when laundry soap was the main detergent - even when washing dishes or doing laundry.

It turns out that cheap laundry soap can be used as a folk remedy to treat the flu. Many manufacturers add various flavorings to it to improve the smell. You can wash dishes or your hair with this soap. But only 72% brown laundry soap is suitable for treatment.

When the flu begins, you should take laundry soap and lather 2 small cotton swabs with it, insert them into the nostrils, and treat each nasal cavity in turn. You don’t have to soap the tampon, but soak it in a soapy solution.

When a child has a runny nose, you can use nasal drops:

• fresh beet or carrot juice mixed with honey in a 1:1 ratio;
• freshly squeezed cabbage juice;
• fresh juice of colanchoe or aloe;
• fir oil

Drug treatment

Among the wide range of medicines, there are certain groups that are aimed at combating a particular ailment. Thus, the drug can be antiviral or antibacterial, analgesic or antipyretic, immunomodulatory or regenerative. You can continue ad infinitum. What flu medications are suitable for home use?

Flu symptoms

Before considering the question of how many days people have the flu, you need to make sure that this particular disease is developing. It is very important to distinguish the disease from a cold by its symptoms, since the effectiveness of treatment will otherwise be reduced to zero. If an adult or child has a cold, the illness always begins gradually. The patient experiences a slight malaise, followed by difficulty breathing, rhinitis, and sneezing. After some time, the temperature may rise to 38 degrees. There is a sore throat and cough.

The main mistake patients make is that they suspect the flu. But this concept is understood as an acute infectious disease of the respiratory tract, which has a slightly different course. Everyone should know about the differences, since the duration of the flu also differs. The disease can cause complications within three days.

The flu always starts with a sharp rise in temperature to 39-40 degrees. The infected person begins to show all the symptoms of intoxication of the body:

• severe pain in the head;
• dizziness;
• soreness in the forehead area;
• pain in muscles and joints;
• absolute powerlessness;
• less often nausea and vomiting.

When infected, the nose is not stuffy and there is no sore throat. The patient suffers from a painful cough that occurs a couple of days after the temperature jump. Another telltale sign of the flu is red eyes and photophobia.

The course of the flu is much more severe than the common cold, and the disease is dangerous due to its complications. In this case, the duration of the flu disease increases. If there is an unexpected jump in temperature and the addition of other symptoms, you should urgently call a doctor. It is possible to answer the question of how long people have had the flu only after it is known whether there are complications.

How to treat the flu at home

More often than not, you have to treat the flu at home. Infants and adults with a severe form of influenza or with chronic severe pathology are subject to hospitalization. But, in any case, treatment of influenza and ARVI at home should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. This is necessary to recover from the flu without complications.

Traditional treatment for influenza at home includes:

1. Bed or semi-bed rest is recommended (depending on the severity of the disease). Those who like to “get sick on their feet” should understand that not only will they not be able to quickly cure the flu at home. The risk of serious complications in this case increases, so this is unacceptable for influenza.

1. Providing fresh, humidified air in the patient's room. To do this, repeated ventilation is carried out; the optimal air temperature is 18-200C. To humidify the air, wet cleaning twice a day, spraying water with a spray bottle, hanging wet sheets or using containers with water is necessary.

1. The volume of liquid consumed per day should exceed 2 liters. For drinking, you can take tea, compote, broth, still mineral water. You should absolutely avoid drinking alcohol: it creates additional stress on the organs, and the body must save all its strength to get rid of the disease.

1. Nutrition should be complete in composition, easily digestible and provide the body with vitamins. It is better to take food in fractional portions. You should definitely eat fruits (lemons, currants, raspberries, cranberries, etc.), vegetables, and lactic acid products. The diet must contain a sufficient amount of proteins required for the reparative restoration of damaged cells and for the formation of antibodies.

Everyone, of course, is interested in drug treatment. Many patients hope for miracle pills that will help quickly cure the flu at home. These patients will have to be disappointed: there is no such medicine. The body copes with the infection itself, you just need to help and not interfere with it. The main task should not be “how to cure quickly,” but how to get rid of the flu without complications.

Of course, advertising of many pharmaceuticals (immunostimulants, interferonogens) promises a quick and successful recovery. But studies in many countries have shown that the effectiveness of these drugs (Anaferon, Viferon, Cycloferon, Arbidol, Amiksin, Amizon, etc.) has not been proven.

Moreover, constant stimulation of the immune system is not only ineffective, but also dangerous: auto-aggression can develop when the body produces antibodies against its own tissues. Diseases with an autoimmune mechanism of development are extremely difficult to treat.

The effectiveness of almost all antiviral drugs was also not confirmed in the study.

Of these, only Remantadine and Tamiflu were effective. But Remantadine is effective only against influenza A. The drug Tamiflu is very toxic and causes a lot of side effects (very serious), including from the central nervous system (including psychosis, suicide, hallucinations, etc.), especially in adolescents.

Therefore, it is better to carry out symptomatic treatment:

1. Antipyretics for influenza are recommended for use for fever in adults above 38.5-390C. In children, the temperature can be reduced after reaching 380C, and if there is a tendency to febrile convulsions, even above 37.50C. For this purpose, it is better to use NSAIDs, which also have an anti-inflammatory effect: Nurofen, Ibuprofen, Nice, Paracetamol.

It is not advisable to use aspirin due to the risk of side effects (increased bleeding). You can use combination products in the form of powders, dissolved in water before use, advertised as remedies for colds and flu. In addition to lowering the temperature, they will help reduce the manifestations of intoxication (headache, muscle pain, weakness, etc.). Such drugs include Fervex, Pharmacitron, Coldrex, Antigrippin, etc.

But it is also better to coordinate their use with a doctor in order to take into account contraindications and not harm the body. For example, Coldrex is not advisable for use in patients with hypertension or unstable blood pressure, and Antigrippin is not indicated for severe anemia.

1. You should not rush to use vasoconstrictor nasal drops (Nazivin, Otrivin, Galazolin, Neonox, etc.). They will cause dryness in the nasal cavity and aggravate the process. On the contrary, the nasal mucosa should be moistened with pharmaceutical saline solutions (maybe with sea salt).

You can use Naphthyzin nasal drops, which are indicated for an inflammatory process in the nasopharynx with dry mucosa. The drug contains pine and eucalyptus oil, so it is important that you are not allergic to plant or other components of the drops. The vitamin E contained in the composition will increase the local immunity of the mucous membrane.

1. For pain and sore throat, it is recommended to gargle with Furacilin solution, soda solution, or use lozenges (Faryngosept, Septolete, Strepsils) with a softening and analgesic effect.

1. Antitussive drugs should also be selected by the doctor taking into account the nature of the cough: in some cases, reduce the excitability of the cough center with a dry cough, painful and unproductive (Stoptussin). In others, and in thick sputum that is difficult to separate, drugs are used that thin the sputum and facilitate its release (Ambroxol, Lazolvan, etc.).

1. When the temperature normalizes, inhalations with alkaline mineral waters (such as Borjomi) or phlegm-thinning drugs can be performed. A nebulizer device is very convenient for inhalation at home.

1. At normal temperatures, distracting procedures (hot foot baths, mustard plasters) help to cope with the cough.

1. The allergic mood of the body caused by a viral infection is reduced by antihistamines (Cetrin, Claritin, Tavegil, Diazolin, etc.).

Powdered medicines for influenza and ARVI

At the pharmacy you can purchase highly effective flu medicines, which are presented in powder form. Such medications have antiphlogistic, antipyretic and analgesic effects.

Preparations:

• "Fervex" is the best medicine for the flu, which contains a high concentration of ascorbic acid;
• "Pharmacitron" - the drug has an antipyretic effect;
• “Upsarin Upsa” is a multi-component remedy that eliminates unpleasant symptoms of the disease, improving the general condition;
• “TheraFlu” - eliminates aches, fights headaches, fever, flu, rhinitis;
• “Coldrex” - due to the active ingredient mezatone, the drug eliminates lacrimation, nasal congestion, and fever;
• “Antigrippin” is an inexpensive but highly effective remedy that quickly copes with poor health and high fever.

Powder formulations are recommended to be used at the first signs of the disease. In this case, you will be able to quickly overcome the disease and not encounter complications.

Myth 4. “I eat garlic and take drugs for immunity, so I won’t get sick”

– regularly wash your hands with soap after visiting public places or the street;

– drink enough liquid (water, green teas);

– visit public places less – theater, cinema, market, concerts, public transport, etc.;

– include in your diet more vegetables (cabbage, garlic, onions, citrus fruits, currants), berries and fruits (kiwi, rose hips, oranges, grapefruits), dairy products (they stimulate the immune system);

– take additional vitamins, especially D, C and fish oil.

But as for drugs that enhance immunity, their role in prevention and treatment is controversial. They will not save you from the flu, and should only be taken after consultation with your doctor.

Typical symptoms

Here are the main manifestations typical of almost all types of influenza (if they occur, it is advisable to consult a doctor):

• Fever , that is, an increase in temperature. It traditionally turns out to be rapid (while with a common cold it is in no hurry to increase and does not reach higher than low-grade levels). The temperature rise itself is an attempt by the body to cope with the infection on its own, but if the readings exceed 38.5 degrees, they should be normalized so that the patient does not “burn out” and irreversible processes do not begin in his body. It often happens that even antipyretic medications cannot immediately correct the temperature.
• Feeling pain in different parts of the body . It begins to “break” joints and muscles, even the skin feels discomfort. It is usually not possible to find a specific source of pain. Sometimes it seems as if every cell hurts.
• General weakness . It's hard to even do daily activities. Sometimes one trip to the toilet requires such a waste of energy that you don’t want anything else afterwards.
• Blood flow in the eyeballs and skin increases , which can result in redness (about the same as with allergies).
• Severe cough and discomfort in the throat.
• Stuffy nose and profuse runny nose , in which the nasal mucous membranes swell. It is almost impossible to breathe through your nose. Even medications that act on blood vessels don’t really help.
• Intoxication of the body. Toxic substances poison the central nervous system, which can result in vomiting, nosebleeds, convulsions, and sometimes even hallucinations.
• Migraine . Extraneous noise may occur in your head. The nature of the headache can be partial or it seems that the whole head hurts.

The recovery time from the flu depends on how quickly you can get rid of the above symptoms and defeat the virus.

In children, the disease may last longer, as in other people with weak immune systems.

It is usually easier for adults to cope with the disease, but the treatment for this must be chosen correctly and started in a timely manner.

Antipyretics and painkillers

Flu tablets can be as follows: Paracetamol, Nurofen, Nise and others. All of them are excellent at fighting fever and relieving pain. You can also give preference to suspensions and syrups. These flu medications are easy to take and do not cause any discomfort. These include: Nimulid, Calpol, Ibuprofen and so on. For the convenience of patients, doctors sometimes prescribe powder formulations. They need to be diluted with hot water and taken as tea. Among such remedies, Fervex and Theraflu solutions for influenza are very popular.

It is worth remembering that these medications should be used only when the thermometer shows more than 39 degrees. Until this moment, the body tries to fight the virus on its own and secretes human interferon. If the disease affects a child or an elderly person, then you should take antipyretic drugs after the temperature rises to 38 degrees.

Distinctive features of the disease

How to quickly cure flu and colds? It is unlikely that it will be possible to defeat this disease in one day; in order for it to completely go away, all its unpleasant symptoms must consistently develop and then fade away.

The flu differs from ordinary respiratory diseases in its symptoms:

• sore throat, which does not occur immediately, but after some time, as well as a runny nose;
• severe pain in the head, muscles, joints;
• discomfort in the eyes, redness of the conjunctiva, active lacrimation;
• an increase in body temperature accompanied by chills.

As you can see, the symptoms of the flu are unpleasant, so a sick person has a strong desire to get rid of them as quickly as possible.

The duration of the disease depends on several factors:

• timeliness of started treatment;
• compliance with medical recommendations;
• immunity strength;
• health conditions;
• presence of chronic diseases.

Important! A person who is on bed rest during an illness with the flu, other things being equal, will recover earlier than a person who suffers from the disease on his feet. Moreover, the latter will greatly increase the risk of complications.

It is very important to seek medical help when the first signs of illness appear. Only a doctor will be able to accurately establish a diagnosis (if necessary, with examinations and tests), and also prescribe treatment that will effectively and quickly eliminate the disease.

Self-medication, with your own choice of medications at the pharmacy, may not give the desired result. In addition, such an approach will delay the recovery process and can harm a person’s health. For example, many people like to take antibiotics at the slightest sign of a cold. In the presence of influenza, this group of drugs is not only absolutely ineffective, it poses a real threat to the health of the liver and other body systems.