Anxiety of colds or infectious diseases. Colds types, symptoms, causes, drugs, prevention, treatment. Frequent infections and colds

Children are much more likely to have colds than adults. This fact is known to many. With the beginning of the cold season, most parents are faced with a problem - the child does not feel well, fever, runny nose, cough ... The cause of these symptoms may be a cold, acute respiratory infections, ARVI or flu, but what is the difference between these diseases? How do you know what exactly your child is sick with? How to protect it from viral infections? For clarification, we turned to Valentina Ivanovna Rolina, a pediatrician with 33 years of experience, a specialist in the treatment of infectious diseases in children.

Differences between colds, acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections and flu.

One of the first and main differences is that these diseases are caused by different viruses (influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus infections, rhinovirus infections, etc.). There are over two hundred different types of viruses. It is very important to understand in time what exactly your child is sick with. An improperly treated flu is dangerous with serious complications. There are mild complications: bronchitis, otitis media, pneumonia, urinary tract damage, peunephritis, and more severe: neuritis, encephalitis, serous meningitis.

Scientists distinguish three main types of influenza virus - A, B and C. The most fundamental difference between them is the ability to change. Thus, the influenza C virus is practically stable. Having been ill once, a person has immunity for almost his entire life, that is, you can get sick with influenza C only at the first meeting with him. This flu virus is widespread and only affects children. Influenza B virus changes, but moderately. If influenza C is a disease exclusively in children, then influenza B is mainly in children. Influenza A is the most insidious, it is he who, constantly changing, causes epidemics.

The next difference is the different course of disease. Influenza begins suddenly and is accompanied by a sharp jump in temperature. There is a pronounced intoxication of the body, which has the following symptoms: chills, weakness, muscle and headaches, aches throughout the body, dry cough with pain in the chest. Catarrhal phenomena are poorly expressed. With any other viral infection (acute respiratory infections, adenovirus infection, or just a viral infection), catarrhal symptoms usually prevail, that is, the child has a runny nose, sore throat, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, then lower, bronchitis. And only then, against the background of these catarrhal phenomena, the temperature appears.

The main difference between acute respiratory infections and influenza is that with them the temperature is least manifested, it rarely rises above 38 ° C, and catarrhal phenomena come to the fore: an abundant runny nose, sore throat, and a wet cough.

The term ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection) refers to those acute respiratory infections (acute respiratory disease) in which the etiological role of respiratory viruses is proven or, more often, assumed. Influenza is usually excluded from this group, which is diagnosed only with characteristic symptoms (especially during an epidemic) or laboratory confirmation.

The common cold in children and adults is most often the result of hypothermia, and has similar symptoms to viral infections. In general, ARI is a general term for the common cold. But a cold can affect different organs. Due to this the following types of acute respiratory infections are distinguished: laryngitis, rhinitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, nasopharyngitis.

Of all the diseases that children suffer from, the share of influenza and ARVI falls to 94%. Most often, children become infected with influenza from adults, as a feature of the flu is its rapid spread. This is especially true for children who are in organized groups, for example, in kindergartens and schools.

Features of treatment and prevention.

For the prevention of viral infections, the pediatrician advises to stay less in crowded places. If this cannot be avoided, try to always use special protective masks. During periods of epidemics, limit your child's visit to sports clubs, shops and any other public places. At the slightest sign of illness, it is better not to send your child to school or kindergarten.

It is necessary to pay special attention in advance to strengthening the child's immunity. Babies and very young children need to be provided with proper feeding, nutrition and care. Older children are prescribed vitamin therapy.

The basis for the treatment of all acute respiratory viral infections is the use of symptomatic therapy. It includes the correct drinking regimen, taking antipyretic and antihistamines, vitamin C. You must drink at least 2 liters of fluid per day. This helps the body to cope with the loss of fluid due to excessive sweating at high temperatures, and also contributes to the liquefaction of phlegm and its discharge when coughing. During an illness, the body loses not only water, but also useful substances, therefore, drinks containing vitamins and microelements should be used for drinking. It is best to drink mineral water, juices, berry fruit drinks.

With ARVI, antipyretic drugs are used to reduce fever, as well as to reduce inflammation and as an analgesic. For children, paracetamol is most suitable. It is characterized by good tolerance, practically does not irritate the gastric mucosa, does not cause severe allergic reactions and Reye's syndrome in children. Paracetamol is even used to treat children under 3 months of age.

Very often ARVI is accompanied by nasal congestion, profuse mucus from the nasal passages, etc. Usually, antihistamines are recommended in such cases. They relieve puffiness well and help children to cope with the disease easier.

How to treat colds in children because they don't like taking medicine so much? In this case, a complex drug is best suited for their treatment. But it is a mistake to believe that the more components a drug contains, the more effective it will be. The composition of the classic complex medicine is paracetamol, an antihistamine and vitamin C. Of these drugs, it can be noted "AntiGrippin for Children" (Natur Produkt), which has a special "baby formula". It contains the same components as in preparations for adults, but at a lower dosage. Its advantage over other drugs is that it has a water-soluble form, in the form of effervescent tablets with a pleasant taste. It does not damage the gastric mucosa, and also provides a faster intake of active ingredients, and the effect occurs immediately after ingestion. In addition, it is much easier to persuade a child to drink delicious medicine.

Note!

It is very important to pay attention to several points when buying a medicine.

First, it is the quality of the drugs. European manufacturers working in accordance with the GMP standard guarantee the quality and safety of medicines. GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) is a standard applied to the production of pharmaceuticals. It guarantees high product quality, which is achieved through careful control over the production process at all stages from the production of components to the packaging of the finished product.

Secondly, it is necessary to carefully study the composition of the complex tool. There are medicines that contain a huge number of components, but this does not guarantee a quick and better treatment. Some ingredients may not be compatible with each other or may not be taken by children. For example, because of the toxicity of rimantadine (found in some flu medicines), the benefits of taking it are much less than the potential negative effects. It should also be remembered that aspirin should not be given to children, as it weakens the walls of the blood vessels.

Another important rule that you need to know is that you should not try to treat the flu with antibiotics and antiviral drugs without a doctor's prescription. Remember that antibiotics only kill bacteria and are ineffective against viral infections. Sometimes the doctor prescribes antibiotics for the flu, but only if complications caused by bacteria (inflammation of the lungs, middle ear or sinuses) have occurred during the illness. And it's important to remember that cold and flu treatment must always be correct!

Is a group of infectious diseases caused by viruses transmitted by airborne droplets. Common to all ARVI is damage to the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. The characteristic signs of ARVI are fever, intoxication, catarrhal syndrome.

Intoxication- this is the poisoning of the body with toxins released by the virus, in connection with which a person develops lethargy, weakness, fatigue, and headache.

Catarrhal syndrome- manifests itself in cough, runny nose, sore throat, redness of the throat. Rhinitis is a common cold.

Tonsillitis Is an inflammation of the tonsils.

Pharyngitis Is an inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa caused by viruses or bacteria.

Laryngitis- an unusual inflammation of the larynx, which manifests itself in a hoarse voice and a rough barking cough.

Cold

All ARVIs in everyday life are called colds. Colds Is a conventional name for a group of diseases that

caused by cooling. However, it turns out that not only cooling is the cause of the disease; the impetus for its development is a viral infection.

Colds are more common in the cold season, when temperature fluctuations, high humidity, strong cold winds are pronounced. They catch colds most often in a situation when hot and sweaty they go out into the cold. With a sharp cooling of the body, a significant amount of heat is immediately lost, as a result, the protective properties of the body are reduced, which allows the infection to develop unhindered. There is irritation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, which is expressed in a runny nose, cough, hoarseness, sore throat, etc.

Complications of ARVI

Quite often, weakened children with ARVI develop complications that are associated with the connection of a secondary bacteriological infection. Complications of colds include tonsillitis, otitis media, enlargement of the adenoids and tonsils.

Varieties of ARVI

The main types of ARVI are influenza, parainfluenza, adenovirus and rhinovirus infection. They all have different characteristics and differ from each other. Let us give a brief description of them.

Flu

Influenza is characterized by damage to the respiratory tract, mainly the trachea; manifested by severe intoxication, fever and moderate catarrhal syndrome. The virus enters the body through the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets.

For flu the prevalence of intoxication over other signs of the disease is characteristic. Intoxication is expressed in severe headache, aches throughout the body, and pain in the eyes.

The child becomes restless or, conversely, lethargic and adynamic, appetite decreases, sleep is disturbed. An increase in body temperature, as a rule, is accompanied by chills, sometimes vomiting, convulsive readiness.

Catarrhal syndrome (cough, runny nose, sore throat) is mild and develops 2-3 days from the onset of the disease. The cough is dry, painful, with pains in the chest, turning into a wet one after a few days.

Recovery occurs in 7-8 days. In some children, after recovery, for about 1-2 weeks, weakness, fatigue, and emotional instability persist.

Parainfluenza

Parainfluenza is characterized by a predominant lesion of the larynx with moderate intoxication and catarrhal syndrome. The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets. The rise in incidence is observed in the cold season.

With parainfluenza, the most pronounced changes in the nasopharynx and larynx. Catarrhal syndrome is manifested by a moderate runny nose (rhinitis), pharyngitis with moderate sore throat, laryngitis. Laryngitis is expressed in a hoarse voice and a rough barking cough. Parainfluenza may be accompanied by symptoms of croup and the development of bronchitis.

The croup is characterized by three main features: voice changes (hoarseness, hoarseness, loss of voice); ; difficult prolonged noisy inhalation. With croup, attacks of suffocation may develop, which mainly occur at night. Cereals are true and false. When ARVI develops. True croup develops with diphtheria. The main cause of croup in ARVI is laryngeal edema.

A typical sign of parainfluenza is laryngitis, which manifests itself in a change in voice, hoarseness. Recovery occurs after 1-2 weeks of illness.

Adenovirus infection

Adenovirus infection is an acute respiratory viral infection with a predominant lesion of the upper respiratory tract and eyes with development. The virus enters the body through the mucous membrane of the eyes and upper respiratory tract. The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets. The rise in incidence is observed in the cold season.

Adenovirus infection is characterized by catarrhal syndrome, which manifests itself in cough, runny nose, moderate intoxication, sore throat, while the throat is red and loose. Polyodenitis develops - an increase in the cervical submandibular lymph nodes. In young children, adenovirus infection can be accompanied by diarrhea up to 3-6 times a day. Stool normalization occurs in 3-5 days.

The main a sign of adenovirus infection is conjunctivitis, which develops on day 2-4 of the disease. Conjunctivitis manifests itself in a burning sensation, cramps, a feeling of sand in the eyes, lacrimation. In this case, the eyelids are swollen, but the swelling is soft, the eye slits are narrowed, the conjunctiva of the eyes is red. The resulting hemorrhages resolve slowly, within 7-10 days.

Recovery occurs in 10-15 days, sometimes in 3 weeks.

Rhinovirus infection

Rhinovirus infection is an acute respiratory viral infection that occurs with severe rhinitis (runny nose), which is the main symptom of this infection. With this disease, intoxication is insignificant and the body temperature does not rise above 37.5 ° C. In the vast majority of cases, rhinovirus infection occurs at normal temperatures.

The patient develops sneezing, nasal congestion, and after a few hours - profuse watery nasal discharge. Nasal breathing is difficult or absent, which leads to sleep disturbances, decreased appetite and headaches in young children. In front of the nose and at the entrance to the nose, irritation occurs due to frequent wiping. It is especially difficult for infants, who, due to nasal congestion, cannot calmly suckle and sleep.

Recovery occurs in 7-10 days.

The people call a cold a whole list of acute respiratory diseases that develop under the influence of numerous pathogens. These bacteria and viruses are found everywhere.

Many people believe that a cold is not harmful to their health, so it is not necessary to seek medical attention at all. Most are seriously convinced that the disease arises from ordinary hypothermia. Some desperate workaholics do not adhere to bed rest during the course of the disease, preferring not to be interrupted from work. However, we must not forget that infection is always the cause.

In the absence of proper treatment, a cold threatens with serious complications that require complex therapy in a hospital setting. It is important to know the symptoms of a cold in order to start treatment on time.

Why does a cold appear?

According to statistics, adults suffer from colds about 3 times a year, children - about 4-5, and preschoolers - from 6 or more. In 1 - 40% of cases, depending on the age of the patient, the timeliness of treatment and the characteristics of the pathogen, a lethal outcome is possible.

As a rule, the source of infection is an infected person, less often bacteria or a carrier of the virus. In the first days of the illness, the patient should limit contact with others, since during this period he is especially contagious.

In order to catch a cold, it is enough for the pathogen to hit the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, mouth, eye. When a patient sneezes or coughs, they spread a huge amount of germs that are transmitted by airborne droplets.

Sometimes the disease develops using the contact-household method.

Pathogenic microorganisms can exist for quite a long time on various objects and surfaces.

Factors contributing to the development of the common cold

The disease always develops in connection with a decrease in the protective functions of the body. Deterioration of immunity in the oral cavity and nasopharynx occurs during stressful situations, frequent colds, hypothermia - all this creates the most favorable conditions for the virus to live.

Small children (up to 3 years old), elderly people, patients with chronic pathologies or immunodeficiency (blood diseases, oncology, HIV) are especially susceptible to severe forms of the disease.

The main symptoms

The symptoms of the disease are similar to those of SARS and flu. The main difference is the absence of heat and too high temperature indicators. The course of the disease will not be as acute as compared to viral ARVI. Let's take a closer look at what symptoms occur with a cold.

Chills

Since the development of the disease is often associated with hypothermia, the first symptom that worries the patient is chills. The patient is trembling and cannot get warm in any way. Along with this, sometimes there is a strong internal heat.

Runny nose

This symptom occurs in connection with hypothermia or an attack of pathogenic bacteria. A runny nose is an indicator that an inflammatory process is taking place in the body. In this case, a slight tingling sensation will be felt in the nose.

Congestion is both an independent symptom of a cold, and an initial indicator, which subsequently turns into mucosal edema or rhinorrhea. As a rule, at this time, the body triggers a protective mechanism - sneezing. With its help, the nose is cleared of mucus and pathogens.

A runny nose caused by viruses is accompanied by a transparent discharge with a viscous consistency. Bacterial infections result in yellowish or greenish mucus. It is necessary to treat a runny nose with the help of regular cleansing of the nasal passages. Before using any pharmacy drugs, you should consult your doctor.

Many people do not see anything dangerous in a cold. This is true, but in some cases complications develop:

sinusitis - inflammation of the maxillary sinuses;
frontal sinusitis is an inflammation of the frontal sinuses.

In the presence of such complications, the patient will feel pain in the bridge of the nose or on both sides of the nose. There is a more pronounced nasal congestion, nasal voice. Do not hesitate to contact a qualified specialist, since complications require proper timely treatment.

Sore throat

A cold first causes discomfort in the throat, then perspiration and, finally, pain. It is always worse when swallowing. Minor pain, as a rule, is characteristic of a viral infection, intense - for a bacterial one. On examination, redness of the back wall of the pharynx, arches, and uvula is found. Tonsils not only acquire a crimson color, but also increase in size.

If bacteria are the source of the cold, a whitish-yellow plaque appears on the tonsils. At first, it is located in separate islands, which subsequently merge. If such overlays are found, it is worth consulting a doctor, since the inflammatory process can cause swelling of the pharynx and difficulty breathing. The specialist will accurately determine the symptoms and treatment, which will help to cope with the disease much faster and prevent the development of complications.

Elevated temperature

This symptom is the most common with a cold. The temperature rises to 37 - 37.5 degrees. If the thermometer is 38 ° or more, this is an indicator of a viral infection. In many ways, the temperature depends on the state of the human immune system.

High rates (40 - 41 °) are especially dangerous, since they can lead to serious complications: in children - to neurotoxicosis, in adults - to cerebral edema, accompanied by loss of consciousness, a decrease in pressure. Such a development of a cold is especially dangerous for the elderly, as well as for babies whose age has not reached 3 years.

Experts believe that while maintaining high rates for more than three days, we can talk about the development of complications or the presence of some other disease, and not a cold.

In order to prevent the temperature from rising to critical levels (-39 and above), it is necessary to take antipyretic drugs prescribed by the doctor and take measurements regularly. A dangerous symptom is hyperexcitability at a temperature of 40 ° C. In children in a similar situation, convulsive syndrome develops, leading to loss of consciousness.

In some cases, there is a cold without an increase in body temperature.

Weakness

Infection is always accompanied by signs of intoxication of the body: general malaise, lethargy, decreased performance, weakness, nausea, muscle pain, poor appetite. The last of these symptoms is characteristic of influenza, when toxic infectious agents begin to affect tissues.

The power of such signs depends on the level of the temperature response.

As the fever subsides, so will the symptoms. Patients can help themselves by using a special diet and drink regimen.

Headache

They occur quite often with colds. Painful sensations can be localized, for example, on the forehead or in the area of \ u200b \ u200bthe temples, or they can be intense, widespread. In the presence of complications of the common cold (frontal sinusitis, sinusitis, sinusitis), constant aching pains are felt in the forehead and nose.

Cough

Colds are accompanied by a dry or moist cough. The latter is characterized by the presence of sputum, which, depending on the causative agent of the infection, is transparent, greenish or yellowish.

A dry cough is, in most cases, a symptom of the flu. This symptom is most dangerous for young children under 2 - 3 years old, since it may indicate the so-called "false croup". With inflammation and swelling of the larynx, its lumen can narrow, leading to insufficient air intake. As a result, the child will begin to suffocate. Usually, such a complication develops in the evening or at night, and requires qualified medical attention. It is for this reason that it is worth treating a cough from early childhood only under the supervision of a specialist.

It is strongly discouraged to use cough suppressants at your own discretion. Improperly selected drugs can cause stagnant inflammation in a person, which can pass into the lower sections of the lungs and contribute to the development of pneumonia.

Chest pain

Most often, discomfort in the chest occurs when coughing due to the loads on the intercostal muscles.

Pain in the depths of the chest with deep breaths and coughing can indicate pneumonia, so you need to carefully monitor your own health.

Severe discomfort is often a consequence of the inflammatory process in the lung tissues. It is important to remember that any discomfort in the chest area is a reason to see a doctor.

Outcomes

What sign of a cold would be a signal to see a doctor? Qualified assistance is needed urgently in the following cases:

the development of the disease in babies under 3 years old;
headaches that are pulsating in nature;
the manifestation of a rash on the body and limbs;
high fever that does not decrease for 3 days;
advanced age of the patient (over 65 years);
chest pain when coughing and breathing deeply, severe lethargy and fatigue;
the development of a cold against the background of pathologies of the cardiovascular system, liver and kidneys.

Even such a simple and seemingly non-serious illness as a cold can cause great harm to the body in the absence of high-quality timely treatment.

Colds are the most common ailment. They are often found in autumn and spring, when a sharp drop in temperature is most often observed. How to recognize the first signs of a cold and what measures to take?

As soon as the patient shows the first unpleasant symptoms, he thinks that hypothermia has occurred. But actually it is not. Doctors say that in ninety percent of cases, colds occur against the background of a viral infection entering the body.

Infection with microbes occurs during contact with a sick person. But not everyone can get sick. Immune function plays a major role. If it is severely weakened, then a cold will manifest itself already on the first or third day.

The first symptoms of a cold are:

itching and burning in the nasal passages;
in paroxysmal sneezing;
in lacrimation;
nasal congestion;
in the appearance of mucus in the nose;
sore throat and pain;
in a light cough;
in raising temperature indicators;
congestion in the ears, ringing, or noise;
in itching in the area of the temples and palate;
in weakness, fatigue and general malaise;
in a painful feeling in the head, muscle and articular structures;
in a chill.

Often, the first symptoms are sneezing and feeling uncomfortable. They appear within a couple of hours after infection. A day later, other signs join in the form of nasal congestion, perspiration and weakness.

If the patient does not start the treatment process, then the catarrhal disease is gaining momentum. Temperature indicators rise: in an adult, they can reach 38 degrees, in childhood up to 39 degrees. In this case, the disease is characterized by chills, runny nose, drowsiness. This suggests that there has been a strong intoxication of the body.
In childhood, abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea may occur. Babies under two years old often refuse not only food, but also drink.

Steps to take at the first symptoms of a cold

Many patients wonder what to do at the first sign of a cold? Is it possible to stop the development of the disease and what to take in such cases?
Doctors believe that adult patients can quickly and independently cope with colds without the use of any medication. It is enough to adhere to folk methods.

If you have the first signs of a cold, what should you do? Here are some guidelines.

First of all, you need to change the normal mode to a gentle one.
Observe bed rest. It is worth giving up all walks, shopping and work. It is worth sticking to it for two to three days.
Drink plenty of fluids. The volume of liquid for adults should be at least two liters, for babies - at least one liter. In this case, you should not be limited only to water. It can be fruit drinks from berries, compotes from dried fruits, teas with lemon, honey and raspberries, mineral water, soups with chicken broth.
Don't forget about proper nutrition. No fast foods, convenience foods, or carbonated drinks. The diet should include foods rich in vitamins and minerals. These include vegetables, fruits, light cereals and soups.
Humidify the air by any means. For such purposes, you can use a special apparatus, or hang wet towels throughout the apartment. In this case, it is important to observe not only humidity, but also ventilation of the room. It is worth remembering that viruses are afraid of cold and humid air.

These activities will help the body recover in a shorter period of time.

Treating the first signs of a cold

How to treat the first signs of a cold? If the disease is just starting to develop, but there are already several symptoms, then it is worth resorting to such a treatment regimen.

With an increase in temperature indicators to 38.5 degrees, wiping with warm water can be carried out. Adults can add a little vinegar to the liquid, and in childhood, herbal extracts of calendula, chamomile or sage perfectly relieve fever.
If the temperature rises above 38.5 degrees, then you should resort to antipyretic drugs. In case of a cold in an adult, Aspirin, Analgin, Coldrex or Fervex will come to the rescue. It is better for children to give safer remedies in the form of Paracetamol or Ibuprofen in syrup or Cefekon and Nuroden in candles.
If the patient has nasal congestion and a runny nose, then rinsing the nose with a saline solution can be performed. For such purposes, you can purchase drugs at pharmacy kiosks or prepare a solution yourself.
You need to carry out the procedure every two hours. Before performing manipulations, vasoconstrictor drops should be dripped. But the duration of their use should not exceed three days.
With a sore throat, it is worth rinsing with different solutions. For such purposes, herbal infusions, furacilin, soda and salt are suitable. You need to perform these manipulations every two hours.
After the procedure, medications should be used to water the throat. These include Miramistin, Hexoral, Lugol, Tantum Verde.
For sore throat, you can dissolve tablets and lozenges in the form of Lizobact, Faringosept, Strepsisla, Grammidin.
To remove puffiness from tissues, you need to drink antihistamines. Children are assigned drops in the form of Fenistil, Zodak, Zirtek. Erius, Suprastin, Claritin are recommended for adults.

It is strictly forbidden to take antibacterial agents at the first symptoms of a cold. They are ineffective against viruses and further weaken immune function.

Antiviral drugs at the first sign of a cold

What to take at the first sign of a cold? Antiviral agents have shown good effectiveness. They can be drunk as a treatment and preventive measure. But if the cold has been going on for several days and is in full swing, then they will be ineffective.

What to drink after the first symptoms appear? Adults are advised to take:

Ergoferon. A new generation drug that contains synthetic interferon. It is produced in the form of tablets. In the first dose, you must take five tablets with an interval of thirty minutes.
Kagocel. An excellent remedy that allows you to cope with a cold, even with delayed treatment. It is produced in the form of tablets and is prescribed for children from the age of four.
Ingavirin. Available in capsule form.

In childhood, they are often prescribed:

Anaferon. Approved for use in babies from the first month of life. It is produced in the form of tablets that dissolve well in water.
Viferon. The drug is available in the form of suppositories.
Tsitovir-3. Available as a syrup. Approved for use in children from one year old.

Traditional methods of treating the first signs of a cold

How to treat at the first sign of a cold without resorting to drug therapy? You can use traditional methods of treatment.
If the symptoms are not very pronounced, then inhalations, compress, warming up and taking infusions will help.

In order not to get sick, it is enough to drink a decoction of chamomile, linden and raspberries. You need to use it every two to three hours. It can also be replaced with lingonberry or cranberry juice with the addition of honey.

If the patient does not have a high fever, then at the first signs of illness, a warm bath with the addition of herbal infusions, salt or essential oils can be taken. This procedure allows you to instantly relieve nasal congestion, fatigue and general malaise. After the bath, you need to put on warm socks and go to bed.

An excellent remedy for cold symptoms is inhalation. The vapors penetrate deeply into the mucous membranes and tissues, thereby relieving nasal congestion and stopping the inflammatory process. You can resort to steam inhalation or the use of a nebulizer. Steam inhalation can be carried out for adults and children over five years old without the absence of high fever. Essential oils, herbs, or baking soda and iodine can be added to the water.

If the patient has a temperature above 37.3 degrees or his age is less than five years old, then it is better to use a nebulizer. As a solution, you can use saline, saline, herbal infusions, mineral water.

With a sore throat, compresses are made on the neck. They are of two types: dry and wet. The first involves warming the affected area with a warm scarf. Wet compresses are made with the addition of medicines or infusions. It is better to do them for a night's sleep.

Effective compresses include oil, cottage cheese and honey. A bandage is applied to the affected area, and a bag and a warm scarf must be put on top. You need to walk with such bandages for at least two hours.

Preventing colds

How not to get sick during the cold season? To do this, you should adhere to some preventive rules.

Coming from the street, wash your hands and face thoroughly with soap. For such purposes, antibacterial or laundry soap is perfect.
During colds, take a loading dose of vitamin C. Ascorbic acid can be purchased. The dosage per day should not exceed a spot of milligrams.
Strengthen the immune system with hardening treatments, vitamins and exercise.
Take walks in the fresh air. It is forbidden to visit crowded places, but you can walk in the courtyard, just dress for the weather.

If there is a cold, the doctor knows how to quickly deal with it. But it is best to follow basic preventive measures.

Colds (synonyms: acute respiratory viral infection, ARVI) is a viral infection in which the respiratory tract is mainly affected and which usually occurs after hypothermia. These diseases are similar in their manifestations, but they can be caused by different viruses. The treatment principles are also usually the same.

Infection usually occurs by airborne droplets, through objects and hands, on the surface of which pathogens are located. Outbreaks occur during wet, cold weather, which contributes to the spread of the virus.

The main types of colds

Flu

The virus is the most "famous" causative agent of acute respiratory viral infections. After infection, an incubation period usually takes place, which lasts for 2 days. Then the body temperature rises (up to 39 - 40 ° C), there is general weakness, headache, dizziness, a feeling of weakness, and in the joints. There is a runny nose, sore throat, cough. Then the cough becomes "like a barrel", the pain behind the breastbone worries - signs of damage to the trachea. The disease usually goes away within 5-7 days. Influenza can cause complications in the form of sinusitis, pneumonia.

The flu virus is highly volatile. Sometimes there are strains that cause severe forms of the disease. Epidemics break out, during which people can die. With flu, bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids, antipyretics, expectorants are prescribed. There is a vaccine to prevent the disease today.

Parainfluenza

This type of infection is mostly common in young children. The disease is transmitted from person to person by airborne droplets. The incubation period is from 2 to 7 days. Then the temperature rises, weakness, weakness, and decreased appetite appear. These symptoms are not as severe as with the flu.

From the first day, mucous discharge from the nose appears. On the 2-3rd day, they become thicker, acquire a yellow or green color. Then a loud barking sign of a lesion of the larynx begins to disturb. Laryngeal edema and choking may occur in young children. If bacteria join the viruses, then parainfluenza turns into pneumonia.

Treatment for parainfluenza is similar to that for influenza. The prognosis is always favorable. There is no specific anti-virus.

Adenovirus infection

This type of cold affects the nose, conjunctiva, and lymph nodes. Transmission occurs by airborne droplets or through unwashed food. Outbreaks most often occur during the cold season. After infection, an incubation period takes place, the duration of which can range from 2 to 12 days. Then the body temperature gradually rises (it can rise to values of 39 - 40 ° C), weakness, a feeling of fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting, headache appear. The nose is stuffy, thin mucus is secreted from it, which then becomes more viscous, acquires a yellow or green color. Wet cough worries. There is itching and pain in the eyes, they turn red. The lymph nodes located under the skin are enlarged.

Treatment for adenovirus infection is the same as for the flu. Vasoconstrictor drops and seawater are instilled into the nose. Apply antiviral eye drops.

Rhinovirus infection

Rhinovirus infection is a type of acute respiratory viral infection in which the nose is mainly affected. The virus does not survive well in the external environment, therefore, outbreaks of the disease occur only in the cold season in large cities, where there is a crowding of people.

After infection, an incubation period of 1 to 5 days passes. Then there is malaise, weakness, chills, an increase in body temperature (usually up to 37 ° C). The nose becomes stuffy, there is an itch inside, a tickling feeling. It seems to the patient that there is something in his throat. In the first days, a clear liquid is secreted from the nose, by the end of the disease it thickens, becomes yellow, green. The infection can "descend" on the pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi. Among the most common complications of rhinovirus infection are otitis media (ear inflammation).

Treatment for rhinovirus infection:

The prognosis for rhinovirus infection is always favorable. There is no vaccine against this virus. Prevention consists in hardening and strengthening the immune system, timely isolation of patients, frequent ventilation and wet cleaning. If there is a patient in the room, then it is useful to irradiate him with an ultraviolet lamp.

When a patient goes to a doctor with a cold, it is far from always possible to identify a specific pathogen. And it is not always advisable. The diagnosis sounds just like ARVI, and the treatment is carried out according to general principles.