Flu is acute infectious disease provoked by influenza viruses. Thera are several serotypes of viruses: A, B and C, which involve human`s respiratory system. Influenza is fraught with serious and sometimes lethal consequences, creates epidemics and pandemics. Sickness is mostly accompanied with high temperature and moderate catarrhal occurrence. Virus spreads from sick human to healthy one by air-drop way with cough, sneezing, talking, and also it can live couple hours on different things are touched by sick. The area of virus`s spreading is about 10-17 feet (3-5 meters). People of different ages can fall ill influenza. Children, aged and people with chronic sicknesses are in the group of high risk conditions.
How can we recognize flu?
There are differences between signs of simple cold and flu, let`s examine influenza’s symptoms. This illness begins suddenly with high temperature and fever. Sick people complain of stuffiness in nose, dryness in throat, aches in the forehead area, muscles, joints, bones, insomnia and weakness. The face and the neck of flu’s sick persons have got reddish tinge, lips are bright and dry. Temperature keeps 5-7 days and it reaches the maximal meaning in the first or second day of the sickness. Dry, painful cough appears on the second-third day from the beginning of influenza. These symptoms are insignificant at first, but on 4-5 day rhinitis replaces stuffiness in nose and cough becomes wet. There are different kinds of bleeding, small skin eruption on the top body`s part, delirium and impairment of consciousness in hard case of sickness. If you have some of these symptoms or repeated vomiting, watery diarrhea, chest pain with breathing and temperature is higher than 104 F (40 C), call a doctor immediately.
Which aftereffects of flu are?
Besides that influenza is hard acute disease, it can give very dangerous and even lethal complications, too. There are pneumonia, convulsive disorders (of children especially), carditis (inflammation of the heart), stenosis of larynx, otitis media and others among aftereffects of flu. Also some chronic sicknesses such as (bronchial asthma, allergies, heart disease, pancreatic diabetes and others) are exacerbated by influenza.
The basic methods of the flu treatment
Remember, only physician can form a correct diagnosis by tests, sym
ptoms and prescribe necessary treatment for flu. Sick individuals with light and medium forms of this sickness are cured at home chiefly, but with hard case in hospital only. For flu treatment are used antiviral preparations such as (Avelox, Cefaclor, Cefotaxime, Cephalexin and so on). Drugs with anti-fever activity like (Anaprox DS, Bayer ASA Aspirinand others) are mostly applied only if the body temperature is higher than 101,3F (38,5 C). For deliverance from cough are employed expectorant medicines (Vancomycin, Zithromax and some others). For fighting with stuffy or runny nose are taken different nasal drops (Astelin, Flonase, Nasonex, Rhinocort, and different others). In case of need, for defense the immunity, vitamins (Vitamin C, Guduchi, Kof Tea, Spirulina Capsules, Zincovit and several others) may be employed.
Which preventive measures against the flu are used?
There are various ways to prevent the influenza: taking antiviral for prophylaxis or medicine with immunity’s defense activity, following elementary common hygiene (washing hands regularly, rinsing mouth and throat after visiting public places), using individual respiratory mask and so on. But one of the best of all preventive measures is flu vaccine. Physician may decide to prescribe flu shot after observation the patient.
Why is it necessary to do flu vaccination?
It is necessary to do flu shots, because they give about 60-90% positive results
for protection from the illness, it is more than any different preventive methods. Especially they are recommended (only by a doctor) for people with high risk conditions. Modern vaccines (trivalent) consist of three strains of the virus which are satisfied the epidemiological prognosis for each periods of time and place. There are nasal and injection vaccines. Your physician can prescribe one of them if he/she is sure that there will not be any difficult side effects of flu shot or harm for your health. It is necessary about two weeks after vaccination to be formed immunity for flu. Sometimes flu shot symptoms such as (insignificant rising of the temperature, weakness, headache, swelling and redness in place of injection) is happened, it is the reaction of the human immune system, but usually side effects pass independently for 1-3 days.