Summer flu symptoms. Symptoms, treatment and prevention of influenza

The thing is that the danger of the disease lies in the fact that the disease is easily transmitted through the air, you can get infected with it in public transport, at work, in any public places, this virus is especially dangerous for young children who carry the influenza virus very hard, and also suffer from serious consequences of the disease. For this reason, it is worth learning as much as possible about the flu 2016, the symptoms and treatment of this disease in order to avoid complications.

History of this virus

Probably many remember that seven years ago a whole flu epidemic began, which at first only affected pigs, but then began to be transmitted to humans, and people were already spreading the strain further. In 2009 there was a real pandemic of such a disease, seven years ago millions of people were exposed to this disease, while this disease was discovered not only in our country, but also on other continents around the world. And although the epidemic has already passed, and doctors were able to bring out a suitable vaccine to combat this virus, still today many are afraid of contracting swine flu, so doctors strongly recommend that you know more about the 2016 flu, the symptoms, and what medications you will need to treat yourself.

Why do doctors warn about the onset of swine flu in our country?

As epidemiologists say, the first outbreaks of this disease have already been recorded in Russia, even at the beginning of this year the virus raged on the streets of large cities, then the epidemic immediately affected forty-seven regions, and this very often became the cause of poor health of people who applied to polyclinics. strain of the virus.

According to experts, this year the virus may come closer to the New Year holidays, but the spread of the infection may stop only at the end of February next year. According to scientific data, this year in January, one hundred and twenty-nine people died not only from the virus itself, but also from its consequences. Most cases of infection were found in the Kuban, in the Rostov region, as well as in Dagestan.

Who is at risk?

Today, it has already been established that the virus most often spreads in young people, although it is likely that this is due to the fact that young people are more likely to communicate with large companies and also visit public places. But this is a little strange for doctors, because young organisms better resist various infections, elderly people and children under five years old, whose immune system is insufficiently developed or weakened, should have entered the risk zone. Today, doctors say that those people who are often in large crowds are at great risk.

There is also a certain list of people who are most often affected by this strain, elderly people who are more than sixty-five years old are included in the risk group, and children with an undetermined immune system are also on the list. In addition, there is a great chance of contracting a dangerous disease in pregnant women, in patients with immunodeficiency, in some cases, patients with asthma or chronic bronchitis are attacked by the virus faster and easier.

At the same time, this virus is very dangerous, so it is very important to find out more information about the flu 2016, symptoms, treatment and prevention of this disease. All the same, patients should remember that it cannot be transmitted through pork meat, but the strain easily penetrates the body if the patient sneezes, coughs, or a healthy person touches an infected surface, and then touches his nose or eyes with his hands.

When a patient develops the first symptoms of infection, he can become a potential carrier of the virus, so all households should protect themselves with masks, while the patient himself should wear a mask. If the patient begins immediate treatment with drugs that fight viruses, then the strain dies after three days, then the patient is considered not dangerous to others. If we talk about children, then they can carry the virus for about ten days.

If the virus gets on some surfaces, then it feels great there for exactly two hours, only after that the death of microorganisms occurs, therefore it is forbidden to drink or eat from those devices that the sick person used. Even in a minibus or bus, you can get infected if the patient takes on the handrail, and then a healthy person takes it, then this virus will live on his palms.

As soon as a person touches his nose or just his face with dirty hands, the probability of infection is more than ninety-five percent. It is extremely rare that the disease manifests itself without any symptoms, in this case the patient feels quite normal, without feeling weak or unwell, but still the patient will remain a carrier of a dangerous virus. It is for this reason that you should especially carefully monitor your health, as well as know more information about the flu 2016, symptoms and treatment in Krasnodar, in order to contact your doctor in time.

What are the symptoms of a terrible disease?

Influenza is generally distinguished by its vivid symptoms, so this disease is difficult to confuse with some other virus, but the bottom line is that the swine virus has almost the same symptoms as a regular strain of flu. To begin with, the patient has a chill in the body, the body temperature rarely rises, there is a wet one, or, if the cough has not manifested itself, then there will certainly be severe sore throat and sore throat. Not infrequently, headaches and weakness manifest themselves, there is a runny nose or just a stuffy nose, the patient feels tired, feels severe body aches, in some cases diarrhea may appear, but this symptom is more typical for childhood, diarrhea is connected to diarrhea, then the flu can be confused with intestinal.

All the same, not many patients know the necessary information about the flu 2016, symptoms and drug treatment, but first it is worth telling more about the symptoms of the swine virus. Influenza generally differs from the common cold in that its symptoms begin to develop rapidly, after infection it may take less than twelve hours, after which the patient begins to feel unwell, the high body temperature rises sharply, chills and headaches appear. What kind of influenza strain was detected in a patient cannot be said solely by external examination; for this, laboratory tests will have to be prescribed in order to identify a progressive type of virus.

It is worth saying that swine flu can also have many side effects on the body, the most dangerous of which is pneumonia, this lung disease most often affects children and the elderly who have already had the flu. The danger lies in the fact that pneumonia develops very quickly, already on the second or third day of the disease, pneumonia can be detected in the patient. In order not to face such serious problems, it is better to immediately find out from specialists about the flu 2016, symptoms and treatment in Volgograd, as well as other cities of the country.

To begin with, it is worth talking about the symptoms of pneumonia that are present in adults, they include a very high body temperature, which can rise above forty degrees, and the person also does not feel well, although these two symptoms are often attributed not to the presence of pneumonia, but to progressive flu. It is worth paying attention to such a symptom as shortness of breath for a sick person, severe coughing fits, the patient begins to complain of painful sensations in the chest area, the patient refuses to take food, often there is pain in the abdomen and in the head area, since the patient does not have enough oxygen , he has cyanosis around his mouth.

But besides pneumonia, other types of complications can occur, for example, children often have otitis media, but this disease progresses in adults. does not work well. So it is important to know more about the flu 2016, symptoms and treatment in children, so as not to let the disease aggravate the baby's condition. Another complication that the patient can expect is sinusitis, this disease leads to inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, treatment can be carried out with medication, or surgery is used. Further, it is worth describing more serious complications, because there have been cases when meningitis, tracheitis, inflammation in the kidneys and in the heart muscle were a complication.

Parents need to be very attentive to the condition of their children, if the following symptoms suddenly appear, you should immediately call an ambulance to avoid the unpleasant or even fatal consequences of swine flu.

What symptoms are dangerous for a child with the flu?

To begin with, you should pay attention to how the child breathes, if respiratory activity is impaired, it is difficult for the child to breathe in or the baby breathes too often, you should immediately seek help. It is worth paying attention to the shade of skin color more often, if a strange pallor or even blue discoloration of the integument appears, this will be a signal for immediate seeking an ambulance. Constant vomiting and diarrhea can lead to rapid dehydration of the body, and since swine flu passes with an increase in body temperature, the process of removing fluid from the child's body will take place many times faster, which often leads to the death of the baby.

Quite a few children themselves talk about their condition, parents just need to carefully monitor the signals, if the baby becomes apathetic, he often worries and becomes less sensitive, this is a reason to immediately take the child to the doctor for an appointment. It is very important to monitor the child's fluid intake, if he refuses fluid altogether, this also leads to early dehydration, then it is worth calling an ambulance to carry out further treatment in the hospital. If you do not know such banal actions with the 2016 flu, the symptoms and treatment (forum) will not help the patient in any way, without calling an ambulance in time, you can bring the baby's condition to irreversible serious consequences, up to and including death.

How does swine flu manifest in children?

It is worth saying that it is extremely important to know about the flu 2016, symptoms and treatment, in children how to treat this disease should be asked only from a doctor, but still it is worth knowing that children's symptoms are slightly different from those of an adult. To begin with, it is worth considering that the flu causes drowsiness in a child, he may not respond to certain actions of his parents, or, on the contrary, becomes too whiny and capricious.

It is important to monitor the child's condition, if he has difficulty breathing or just unfamiliar behavior, it is better to consult a doctor for help. Adult children complain of pain in the head area, muscle soreness is often observed, body temperature rises, the throat becomes inflamed and nasal congestion occurs.

It is very important to know more about influenza 2016, symptoms and treatment of this disease in Voronezh, if a baby has defects in the development of the heart or lungs since childhood, children with diseases of these organ systems are at serious risk, you should consult a doctor at the first signs of illness in if the child has a severely weakened immune system or has neurological disorders.

As a treatment, doctors prescribe mandatory antiviral drugs, and the patient will also have to drink plenty of fluids, this will help to avoid dehydration. You should not go to work with such a serious illness, since the immune system must fight the flu in full force, and for this the body simply needs good sleep and rest.

Autumn is already on the doorstep, which means that seasonal illnesses are making themselves felt. We will study the features of the flu this year, methods of treatment and prevention, as well as the main symptoms of the disease.

The information that the virus has been mutating for more than a year has been on everyone's lips. The best WHO experts are studying its species, analyzing and predicting which particular strain will make itself felt in the autumn-winter period and will become a real test for human health.

Every year people with low immunity suffer from seasonal infectious and viral diseases. The main danger of the disease is that the virus is prone to frequent mutations. Every 10-20 years, the epidemiological situation changes dramatically and is complicated by a complete modification of the strain. But this does not mean at all that the symptomatology of the disorder is changing dramatically. As a rule, more dangerous symptoms are added to the already "classic" signs.

For 2015-2016, epidemiologists expect influenza outbreaks in November-January. This means that routine vaccinations will be carried out in September-October. But for this season, experts predict a stable situation even in the first months of cold weather. Therefore, there is a great chance to prepare for an infection and neutralize it.

Flu season 2016 - a hidden danger

For the coming season, doctors do not foretell catastrophic flu outbreaks. But this does not mean that it is not necessary to carry out prevention of the disease. Since the virus is rightfully considered the most dangerous among the known viral lesions. The disease poses the greatest danger to people with chronic diseases of the respiratory system and a weakened immune system. The risk group includes the elderly, pregnant women and children.

In 2016, analysts predict insignificant activity of the previously known strains:

• A / California / 7/2009 (H1N1) pdm09 is a subtype of swine flu that became known in 2009. It was this virus that caused the epidemic all over the world. The greatest danger is represented by complications, which very often lead to death. The infection can cause sinusitis, pneumonia, and even inflammation of the meninges.
• A / Switzerland / 9715293/2013 (H3N2) is a subtype of strain A. Its danger is in complications that pathologically affect the cardiovascular system.
• B / Phuket / 3073/2013 (B / Yamagata) and B / Brisbane / 60/2008 - a subtype of strain B, belongs to little-studied viruses. The disease is difficult to diagnose due to blurred symptoms. But doctors do not consider it dangerous, as it does not cause life-threatening complications.

The solution to the problem of influenza is significantly complicated by the fact that symptoms that appear at an early stage can be observed with other diseases. Under the guise of influenza infection, there may be: angina, food poisoning, typhoid fever, rheumatism, dysentery, tuberculosis and other disorders. There are known influenza-like respiratory tract infections, which proceed like influenza, but are caused by completely different viruses.

To date, eight families of such viruses are known, including rhinitis viruses, adenoviruses, parainfluenza viruses and 1PC viruses. Diseases caused by such an infection resemble real flu. Antibodies are tested to determine the true pathogen causing the outbreak.

Influenza 2015-2016: special risk groups

Any disease has certain risk groups among people who are prone to infection. Since influenza infection is a respiratory disease caused by viruses, its main danger is a high level of infectiousness, a severe course and a lot of complications. With the wrong treatment or lack of it, the disease can be fatal.

Consider who is at risk for influenza infection:

• Newborn babies

Babies lack immunity, which significantly increases the risk of infection. The situation is complicated by the fact that up to six months, routine vaccination is not carried out. To prevent illness, it is recommended to follow preventive measures. So, if the baby is breastfed, then the mother should be vaccinated. This will allow the baby to receive antibodies through the milk. Everyone who comes into contact with the child must also be vaccinated. If any of the family members have symptoms of infection, then any contact with the newborn is contraindicated.

• Pregnant

Immunity is weakened due to hormonal changes caused by the development of the fetus. Influenza 2016 in a pregnant woman is dangerous for both the woman herself and her child. The most difficult consequence of the disease is premature birth. If a woman suffers an illness on her legs, then this can lead to the development of various defects in the fetus, even a miscarriage is possible. These processes can be prevented by timely vaccination and preventive measures.

• Elderly people

The risk of infection is caused by a number of factors, first of all, a large number of chronic diseases and a natural decrease in immunity. Distrust of vaccination has a detrimental effect.

In addition to the categories described above, the risk group includes people with chronic diseases and disabilities, patients with neurological developmental disorders, asthmatics, patients with chronic lung, kidney and liver damage, as well as people with developmental delays and intellectual disabilities.

World flu 2016 - on the doorstep

Mixovirus influenzae, that is, the influenza virus, belongs to the Orthomyxoviridae family and has three forms: A, B, C. Types A and B are found in humans. Virus A is the main source of influenza epidemics, and type B provokes milder forms of the disease. Infection is determined by antigenic properties, that is, to differentiate between A and B types, a solution of matrix proteins antigens and non-cleoprotein antigens are used.

Consider the main clinical signs of viruses and their stages (found all over the world):

	Symptoms	The form gravity	Assessment of severity	Features of the flow
AND IN FROM	Intoxication of the body, headaches, chills, convulsive syndrome, catarrhal phenomena.		The temperature is subfebrile, signs of intoxication are poorly expressed.	No complications, mild course.
	Pathological changes in the bronchopulmonary system (hemorrhagic edema, bronchitis, segmental edema).	Medium-heavy	Body temperature is 38.5-39.5 ° C, symptoms of intoxication are expressed (head and muscle pain, weakness, dizziness). In rare cases, abdominal syndrome and segmental edema are possible.	Complications associated with the virus (neuritis, encephalitis, and others) are possible.
			Body temperature reaches critical values \u200b\u200bof 40-40.5 ° C. Loss of consciousness, delirium, convulsions, hallucinations, nausea and vomiting are possible.	Characterized by bacterial complications (otitis media, purulent-necrotizing laryngo-tracheobranchitis, pneumonia, bronchitis)
	Immunofluorescence and enzyme immunoassay tests have positive results	Hyper-toxic	Hyperthermic syndrome; meningo-encephalitic syndrome; hemorrhagic syndrome

World statistics indicate that about 15% of humanity suffers from influenza every year. It is this ailment that entails irreversible damage to the structures of the brain and the cardiovascular system. The European Center for Disease Control and Prevention predicts low infection activity for the coming year. But isolated cases of infection are possible, which can be prevented by a timely vaccine.

Flu epidemic 2016

The beginning of the influenza epidemic is predicted for January-February 2016. There is still enough time to think about prevention options or get vaccinated. A sharp jump in the incidence is possible in November-December this year. The danger of the disease is that only limited funds are required to eliminate it.

More than 200 thousand people die from the disease and its complications every year. Since infection occurs through airborne droplets, the flu proceeds in the form of epidemics, that is, sharp outbreaks that spread quickly and suddenly. In especially acute periods, up to 50-70% of the total population can be infected.

To prevent the catastrophic scale of the disease, prevention is recommended. To date, vaccination is considered the most effective. This method not only reduces the mortality rate and maintains health, but also has a significant economic effect. This is due to the fact that the economic damage caused by the virus affecting one person is more than $ 100, and the cost of vaccination is 6-8 times lower than the losses from the disease.

For the 2015-2016 season, the composition of influenza vaccines has been updated, according to the recommendation of the World Health Organization. The vaccine has replaced two strains and now protects against three of the most common and severely complicating viruses.

The strain composition of influenza vaccines:

• A / California / 7/2009 (H1N1) pdm09
• A / Switzerland / 9715293/2013 (H3N2) -like virus
• B / Phuket / 3073/2013-like virus

Compulsory vaccination on a free basis is subject to: children from 6 months, schoolchildren, students, workers in medical, educational, transport and utilities. As well as pregnant women, patients over 60 years of age, persons subject to military service and people with chronic diseases. The procedure is allowed to be carried out simultaneously with other vaccinations, except for vaccination against tuberculosis.

Influenza 2016 in Russia

According to forecasts of the federal health service, the increase in the incidence of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections will begin in January 2016. February will be unsuccessful, as an epidemic of moderate intensity is expected. According to preliminary WHO estimates, in 2016 the following strains will prevail in Russia: AH1N1, AH3N2 and influenza B. These strains became the basis of the Grippol Plus vaccine, which the Russians are going to be vaccinated with.

In all districts, the incidence rate is monitored to prevent an epidemic. Influenza is dangerous by the development of complications, the most unfavorable of which is pneumonia. Today it is this complication that occupies a leading position among infectious diseases. Special attention is paid to public awareness at the regional level.

Quarantine-restrictive measures have been developed in medical institutions. For the period of the epidemic, additional beds have been prepared and drugs have been purchased, which will allow timely hospitalization of patients in infectious diseases wards and start therapy.

Influenza 2016 in Ukraine

The World Health Organization has published a forecast for the circulation of influenza virus strains in this epidemic season for the northern hemisphere, which is likely to affect Ukraine. According to the data received, the composition of the viruses has been updated, so people with weakened immune systems need vaccination.

• A / California / 7/2009 (H1N1) pdm09
• A / Switzerland / 9715293/2013 # 01
• B / Phuket / 3073/2013

In the last epidemic season, there were about 5.4 million cases of influenza infection. At the same time, about 13% of the total population fell ill with ARVI, 49% of them are children under 16 years old. The Ukrainian Center for Disease Control and Monitoring regularly analyzes the immune layer of the population. Fresh information indicates insufficient immunological protection of Ukrainians, which threatens an epidemic condition and dangerous complications of influenza.

Flu symptoms 2016: forewarned is forearmed

The clinical signs of influenza and ARVI have much in common due to respiratory tract damage and general toxic symptoms. Influenza is an acute, contagious disease with mild catarrhal symptoms and severe toxicosis. The greatest damage occurs in the trachea and large bronchi. Symptoms vary and depend on the patient's immune status and age, as well as on the type of virus and its strain.

In 2015-2016, there can be both uncomplicated and complicated forms of the disease. The incubation period can last from several hours to 1-5 days. After this, acute clinical manifestations begin. The severity of any form depends on the severity and duration of intoxication and catarrhal symptoms.

Intoxication

The main symptom that appears in the first hours of infection. The disease begins with a sharp rise in temperature, from subfebrile values \u200b\u200bto hyperthermia. If the disease is mild, then the temperature is not high. The severity of intoxication shows the level of fever. When infected with the type A (H1N1) virus, symptoms of intoxication are mild, even at very high body temperatures.

• Temperature is sharp and short-lived. The fever period lasts 2-6 days, after which the temperature decreases. If it persists for a long period of time, then this indicates complications.
• Headache - discomfort occurs in the frontal and supraorbital region, aggravated by the movement of the eyeball. The severity of pain can vary, but it is usually mild. Severe pain is accompanied by sleep disturbances, bouts of vomiting, and adverse symptoms from the central nervous system.
• General weakness - this symptom also refers to intoxication syndrome. Fatigue, increased sweating, and a feeling of fatigue appear. The patient complains of muscle and joint pain, aches throughout the body, and especially in the lumbosacral region.
• Appearance - the patient's face looks reddened, conjunctivitis, photophobia and lacrimation are possible.

Catarrhal syndrome

Another leading sign of influenza infection. But, as a rule, it recedes into the background, and in some cases is absent. The duration of the catarrhal syndrome is 7-10 days, but the cough may persist longer.

• Oropharynx - there is reddening of the soft palate with delimitation from the hard palate. By the 3rd day of illness, the redness changes to the vascular network. If the disease has a severe course, then small hemorrhages and cyanosis appear on the soft palate. The mucous membrane is restored on the 7-8th day of treatment.
• Nasopharynx - the nasal mucosa is hyperemic, dry, edematous. The turbinates are swollen, which makes breathing difficult. These symptoms occur on the 2-3 day of illness and are accompanied by nasal discharge. In the case of toxic damage to the vascular walls and intense sneezing, nosebleeds may occur.
• Cough, tracheobronchitis, laryngitis - painful sensations appear behind the breastbone, dry cough. If the flu is uncomplicated, then the cough persists for 5-6 days. In addition, rapid breathing, sore throat, hoarseness, wheezing appear.

• Cardiovascular system - changes are caused by toxic damage to the heart muscle. When the temperature rises, there is a rapid heartbeat, which is accompanied by pale skin. After this, lethargy, slowing heart rate and redness of the skin appear.
• Digestive system - changes are not expressed. There is a decrease in appetite, constipation, deterioration of intestinal motility. A white coating appears on the tongue, possibly an intestinal disorder.
• Urinary system - Since viruses are excreted from the body through the kidneys, they damage the kidney tissue. In urine tests, protein and blood elements appear.
• Central nervous system - toxic reactions from the nervous system lead to severe headaches, drowsiness, anxiety, convulsions and loss of consciousness. In rare cases, meningeal symptoms occur.

If the flu is extremely severe, complications can lead to cerebral edema and other pathologies. The fulminant form of influenza infection poses a serious danger of death. The risk group includes patients with chronic diseases and a weakened immune system. This form causes pulmonary and cerebral edema, various bleeding, severe respiratory failure and other complications.

Features of flu 2016

Despite the fact that the season of acute infectious diseases has just begun, medical statistics are horrifying. The peculiarities of the 2016 flu are that in the first week of the new year, the disease affected about 125 thousand people. But the worst thing is the increase in the number of deaths.

The disease is caused by the influenza AH1N1 virus, which first made itself felt in 2009. The average incidence of swine flu is 570 patients per 10 thousand of the population. In Ukraine, the highest rate of pathology was recorded in the Kiev and Odessa regions, the least of all are ill in the Transcarpathian and Ternopil regions. This strain is also raging on the territory of Russia.

Since the infection is constantly mutating, this significantly complicates the process of diagnosis and treatment. In connection with the epidemiological situation in many cities, an enhanced anti-epidemic regime is being introduced. Schools and kindergartens are being quarantined, infectious diseases hospitals are overcrowded, and a mask regime is being introduced. All efforts are devoted to informing the population about the dangerous disease and the features of its prevention.

Who to contact?

Infectionist

What is the difference between a cold and the flu?

Many people think the flu is synonymous with the common cold. As soon as the temperature rose, a runny nose and cough appeared, the patients immediately diagnosed themselves with the flu. Of course, this approach is completely wrong. It is very important to understand the difference between these diseases. The common cold is a mild disease with mild symptoms. Influenza and its complications can cause pneumonia and death.

Influenza infection is a viral disease that is accompanied by high fever, muscle and joint pain, and weakness. The common cold is a broader concept that consists of a complex of symptoms that are caused by both bacteria and viruses. That is, to treat the flu, a special medicine is needed, and in case of a cold, you need to establish the type of disease and only after that prescribe therapy.

• The cold develops slowly, usually with malaise, and the flu - with a sharp jump in temperature and increased weakness.
• Colds can be of both viral and bacterial etiology, flu is an acute viral infection.
• Bacteriological tests are used to diagnose influenza, and laboratory tests are used to confirm a cold.
• As a rule, a cold has a favorable outcome, and the flu, especially severe and advanced forms, leads to complications and even death.

Influenza, SARS and ARI are colds that have common symptoms, but differ in the nature of their course and duration.

As a rule, the incidence of colds increases from the end of August and lasts until the spring. Influenza is characterized by epidemiological outbreaks in December and February.

How is flu 2016 treated?

At the first symptoms of malaise, it is very important to respond correctly and prevent the development of infection. Influenza treatment is a set of procedures to destroy the virus and restore the normal functioning of the body with minimal complications.

Consider the algorithm that should be followed in case of influenza infection:

• Bed rest

The disease cannot be carried on legs, therefore during this period it is necessary to stay in bed and sleep more. But do not forget that an illness is not a reason to spend time watching TV or at a computer.

• Drinking regime

During illness, there is increased sweating, which can lead to dehydration. Therefore, to maintain the water-salt balance, it is necessary to consume a sufficient amount of liquid (herbal teas, juices, fruit drinks, pure water).

• Climate in the apartment

It is necessary to regularly carry out wet cleaning in the room, since the humid climate makes it easier to tolerate the disease. Airing the room will help remove accumulated microbes and viruses. In addition, fresh air promotes healing and improves well-being. You can use a variety of aroma oil burners or salt lamps that kill germs.

• Nutrition

Despite the fact that in the first days of the disease, appetite is significantly reduced, proper nutrition will enrich the body and the weakened immune system with vitamins and nutrients. The food should be light, the diet should be dominated by cereals, soups, boiled meat, fruits and vegetables.

• Vitamins

They help to keep the body in good shape and quickly eliminate the symptoms of the disease. Vitamin complexes - Vitrum and Supradin have a good immunomodulatory effect.

In addition to the above treatment methods, there is also drug therapy. Taking medications should be informed and recommended by the attending physician. It is contraindicated to take pills on your own. To date, there is no shortage in the choice of drugs that eliminate viral and colds. Let's consider their classification according to common features.

Medicines for symptomatic therapy

Drugs in this category eliminate only the symptoms of the disease: high fever, muscle and headaches, nasal congestion, cough. Such pills do not affect the virus, so they should be used as a minor remedy.

• Painkillers and antipyretic drugs - have an analgesic effect, relieve muscle and joint pain.
• Vasoconstrictor drugs - help to eliminate nasal congestion, swelling of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and sinuses.
• Antihistamines - reduce swelling of the mucous membranes, eliminate inflammation, lacrimation and itching. Most often, patients are prescribed: Chlorphenamine, Promethazine.

The above drugs do not eliminate the viral infection, but alleviate its symptoms. The duration of therapy is 3-5 days.

Drugs that affect the immune system and the virus

These funds are prescribed only after establishing the cause of the disease and the type of virus. Antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs destroy the virus and prevent the development of the pathogen. Drugs in this category are classified according to their mechanism of action:

• Neuraminidase inhibitors - stop the spread of infection in the body, reduce the risk of complications. Most often, patients are prescribed: Oseltamivir and Zanamivir.
• Interferon inducers - perfectly combined with other antiviral agents and enhance their effect. Promote the production of proteins in the body that suppress infection. Effective as a prophylactic agent during influenza epidemics. This category includes: Cycloferon, Arbidol, Amiksin.
• Viral protein M2 blockers - type A antiviral agents. Prescribed very rarely, since they have many side effects: Rimantadine, Amantadine
• In addition to the above funds, antiviral drugs are isolated, consider them:
• Homeopathic medicines - Aflubin, Anaferon, Arbidol, Antigrippin.
• Immunostimulating agents - Koldenflu, Imudon, Kagocel, Amiksin.
• Antitussives - Azz, Lazolvan, Codelak, Libeksin, Sinekod.
• To relieve sore throat and runny nose - Faringosept, Strepsils, Nazivin, Naphtizin, Sinupret.
• Antiviral powders - Coldakt, Lemsip, Nurofen, Panadol, Tamaflu, Codelmikst.

Any drugs aimed at treating a viral disease should be prescribed by the attending physician. Their independent use can cause serious side effects from all organs and systems, which will aggravate the course of the underlying disease.

Read also:

• The most advanced flu remedies
• Flu treatment with folk methods
• Home remedies for the flu: which ones to choose?

Complications of influenza 2016

AH1N1 or swine flu hit the world in 2009, taking many lives with it. This year, a mutated strain emerged that also caused deaths. Its danger is its rapid spread, especially in rainy and damp weather. Since this winter lives according to the weather of autumn, this can explain the current epidemiological situation.

The danger of the virus is in its complications. Influenza 2016 causes antibiotic-insensitive viral pneumonia. The disease quickly affects the lungs and vascular system, provoking edema, which can lead to death within 24 hours. Preconditions for secondary infection are associated with a weakened immune system. Due to the severe inflammatory process, she is unable to fight new pathologies.

Signs of secondary infection in those who have had the flu differ depending on the general condition of the body and the bacteria that caused the pathology. But a symptom typical for all (appears on the 3rd-6th day of illness), the second wave of fever appears. From this moment on, the patient's life depends on the effectiveness of the treatment.

Consider the most common complications of the 2016 flu:

• Pneumonia - the danger of pneumonia is that it appears suddenly, when it seems that the disease has receded. A high body temperature of 39-40 ° C is accompanied by chills, chest pains, cough with phlegm and blood.
• Sinusitis is a prolonged inflammatory process in the nasopharynx that causes severe headaches and changes in the voice. Redness of the skin and discharge of pus from the sinuses are possible.
• Otitis media - this complication occurs in both children and adults. There is severe pain in the ears with sharp lumbago, which is worse when talking, eating or pressing on the ear.

With timely medical attention, these bacterial complications can be quickly eliminated. A wide range of antibiotics and vitamin therapy are used for treatment.

More dangerous complications:

• Hypertoxic pneumonia - many experts attribute this pathology to a type of flu, but in fact it is its consequence. Body temperature exceeds the threshold of 40 ° C, accompanied by neurotoxicosis, seizures, hallucinations, nosebleeds. It is this pathology that is the main cause of deaths with flu.
• Reye's syndrome - usually occurs in children under 12 years of age. It occurs due to the use of aspirin during therapy, which destroys the functioning of the liver and central nervous system. In half of the cases, this leads to death. The first symptoms appear on the 5-6th day of illness. Children develop convulsions, breathing disorders, increased drowsiness, apathy, coma. The only prevention of this pathology is the refusal of aspirin during the treatment of viral infections.
• Guillain-Barré syndrome is another complication that is most common in children. It makes itself felt 1-2 weeks after the flu. The child suffers from muscle pain, increased weakness, irregular heart rate and blood pressure, and kidney problems. The main cause of the disorder is that the body produces antibodies to its cells of the nervous system, which have been infected with the virus. The acute period lasts for a month, and it will take years to fully recover. Without timely medical assistance, the child is threatened with paralysis, and even death.

Another group of influenza complications is brain and central nervous system damage. The risk group includes children, people with a predisposition to brain dysfunctions, pregnant women and elderly patients.

• Meningitis - severe headaches appear in combination with vomiting and increased muscle tone in the occiput and neck. In especially severe cases, the patient throws his head back. The prognosis of pathology depends on the diagnostic results, but, as a rule, it is unfavorable.
• Encephalitis is an influenza infection that affects the cerebral cortex and blood vessels of the brain. It develops in the acute stage of the flu, that is, in the first days. Against this background, there is a high temperature, convulsions, loss of consciousness and even impaired speech function. Can lead to paralysis or paresis.
• Arachnoiditis - this complication is latent, as it can appear in a couple of months, or even a year after an influenza lesion. Its slow course is characterized by increasing symptoms. Patients complain of frequent headaches, nausea, tinnitus, and increased fatigue. Epileptic seizures appear, visual acuity and hearing decrease. Most often, arachnoiditis is detected in differential diagnosis with oncology.

The above pathologies are only a small part of what influenza can lead to. An unexpected symptomatology uncharacteristic of a viral infection should be a cause for concern. At the first signs of a pathological condition, you must seek medical help. After a comprehensive examination, the doctor will determine the reality of the threat of complications.

How to prevent influenza in the current 2015-2016 season?

Many preventive measures are used to prevent influenza. But special attention is paid to vaccination, which is a specific immunoprophylaxis.

Today there are three generations of vaccines - whole virion, split, subunit. They contain viral antigens, which allow the body to develop a defense. But this method has several disadvantages. Vaccination is done against one virus, so if another species appears during an epidemic, the vaccine will not protect and you will have to be vaccinated again. Do not forget about those cases when vaccination caused a number of negative consequences. Therefore, this method is everyone's personal choice.

See also: Flu Shot

Common methods of preventing infection:

• Strengthening the immune system - for preventive purposes, it is recommended to take immunostimulating drugs and harden the body.
• Vitamin therapy - natural vitamins found in fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs are excellent for strengthening the protective properties of the immune system.
• Hygiene - After visiting the street, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and clean your nose with a solution of sea salt.
• Avoid crowded places - during an epidemic, refuse to visit public places and transport. Wear a cotton-gauze bandage to prevent infection.
• A healthy indoor climate - regularly wet and ventilate. If you have a humidifier, aroma lamp, or salt lamp, use them, they kill germs in the room and freshen the air.

Flu 2016 is a seasonal illness that you can prepare for. Carrying out elementary preventive measures will help protect against an acute viral infection.

Flu mortality in 2016

According to official data, about 30 people have died from influenza infection in Ukraine this year. The mortality rate for influenza in 2016 is many times higher than this figure for the previous period. Since the beginning of the epidemic season, that is, from October 1, 2015 to the present day, about 2.5 million cases of influenza and ARVI have been recorded. About 4% of all patients were hospitalized, most of whom are children under 17 years old - 75%.

The severity of the situation is compounded by a sharp rise in mortality. Swine flu (a California strain) prevails in this season. 80% of deaths are associated with late seeking medical help (5-6 days). This indicates that many people do not follow basic preventive measures.

Today it is difficult to predict the scale and mortality of the influenza epidemic. Therefore, at the first sign of illness, you must seek medical help. In order to prevent pathology and its complications, it is very important to carry out prevention:

1. Always wash your hands - in most cases, infection occurs through contact. Harmful microorganisms can live on the surface of contaminated objects for several hours, or even weeks. Disinfect your hands after visiting public transport and other crowded places.
2. Limit the use of alcohol and nicotine - it is smokers and alcoholics who most often get sick with the flu and have its complications. Tobacco smoke dries out the nasal passages and paralyzes the ciliated epithelium, which begins to pass infection into the body. Secondhand smoke is also dangerous, as it lowers the status of the immune system.
3. Drink plenty of fluids, exercise, and get some fresh air. Regular ventilation of the room and walks in the fresh air temper the body. Physical activity speeds up oxygen exchange between the circulatory system and the lungs, which helps to eliminate toxins.

Do not forget that flu is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases today. And even if the disease is not severe, it can cause serious consequences.

Flu 2016 - symptoms, treatment

Every year, the viral pathogens of acute respiratory infections undergo mutation, as a result of which the epidemiological indicators inevitably grow. In the current period, a record number of cases fell on the 2016 flu - the symptoms and treatment of this pathology are complicated by the emergence of new antigenic strains that are resistant to preventive measures and vaccination. These include the subtypes of the virus group A (H1N1, H2N2) and B.

Prevention and treatment of early symptoms of influenza 2016

According to the conclusion of the World Health Organization, vaccination is the only correct preventive measure. This year's vaccinations include the 3 predominant influenza strains:

• A / Switzerland / 9715293/2013 (H3N2);
• A / California / 7/2009 (H1N1) pdm09 - major virus;
• B / Phuket / 3073/2013.

Despite the proven efficacy of existing vaccines, they work only in 80% of cases, so therapists advise using additional antiviral drugs.

To treat the first symptoms of influenza 2016, even during the incubation period, it is recommended to use the following means:

• Tamiflu;
• Relenza;
• Tiloron;
• Cycloferon;
• Kagocel;
• Arbidol;
• Ergoferon;
• Ingavirin;
• Anaferon.

It should be noted that Relenza and Tamiflu are effective only in the first 48 hours after the onset of early signs of the disease. If therapy starts later, it is advisable to use the rest of the drugs on the list.

The main symptoms and treatment of influenza during the 2016 epidemic

With a normally functioning immune system, the clinical manifestations of ARVI are weak and do not even require special therapy.

In cases where there is a severe variant of the course of influenza, the following characteristic signs occur:

• a sharp rise in body temperature above 38.5 degrees;
• severe weakness and drowsiness;
• reduced performance;
• dizziness;
• profuse sweating;
• photophobia;
• the onset of cough and runny nose only after 2-3 days from the onset of the disease;
• painful sensations behind the sternum, in the trachea;
• aches in large joints and muscles;
• nausea;
• redness of the whites of the eyes, lacrimation;
• headache;
• a feeling of heaviness in the region of the eyebrows;
• difficulty breathing while inhaling;
• dyspnea.

Such manifestations of intoxication as vomiting and indigestion are rarely added.

For all types of influenza, a single treatment algorithm has long been developed:

• bed rest;
• daily airing of the room;
• frequent wet cleaning;
• plentiful drink;
• a diet with a predominance of light soups, boiled meat, cereals, vegetables and fruits;
• taking vitamins (Supradin, Vitrum).

The medical approach is to relieve the main signs of the disease.

To treat the symptoms of influenza 2016, anti-inflammatory drugs are used - Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and their analogues. They can reduce the severity of pain syndromes, joint aches, and reduce body temperature.

In the presence of additional signs (cough, swelling of mucous membranes, runny nose), appropriate medications are prescribed:

• mucolytics;
• antihistamines;
• vasoconstrictor.

It is important to remember that the therapy of progressive symptoms is carried out only under the supervision of a physician, since ARVI often causes complications in the form of pneumonia, otitis media and sinusitis.

Treatment of flu symptoms 2016 with folk remedies

Alternative medicine refers to symptomatic therapy; it is very dangerous to try to cure severe forms of flu with it.

Simple and effective folk methods to alleviate the signs of SARS:

1. Eat a clove of garlic or a little onion every day, deeply inhale their aroma.
2. Add fresh lemon juice to drinking water (1 tablespoon per 1 liter).
3. Eat warm compotes or preserves diluted with water.
4. Instead of tea, take herbal decoctions based on chamomile flowers, raspberry and currant leaves, rose hips.
5. Do hot 10-minute hand baths.

Fighting the influenza virus

Influenza is the most common seasonal illness associated with lung damage. The cause of the disease is the influenza virus, which is characterized by a huge number of species and their characteristics. The severity of the disease and its individual tolerance by a sick person directly depends on the state of the immune system. The disease can pose a great danger to young children, pregnant women and the elderly due to their vulnerability to this pathology. The seasonal flu is especially widespread. The time of its activity begins in the autumn-winter period with an exacerbation of the epidemiological situation in the region.

This viral disease is characterized by the fact that it has acquired the status of an annual phenomenon, which mutates, complicated by new strains, therefore, during the onset of cold weather, it is necessary to clearly understand what the flu is and how to deal with it.

Danger of flu

A huge number of people die from the flu every year. Most of them are children and the elderly with weakened immune systems. The peculiarity of the disease is that it can cause significant harm to the human body, affecting its most diverse organs and systems. Influenza carries a great threat when a child is conceived, due to the fact that, as it spreads, it begins to produce toxic substances that adversely affect human organs. Influenza viruses destroy the entire environment favorable for fetal engraftment and can cause miscarriage. If the fetus nevertheless begins to develop, the severe influence of the virus can cause a number of pathologies in the genital area, respiratory and other body systems. Therefore, flu and conception are not compatible.

In addition to the likelihood of getting an inflammatory process in the lungs (pneumonia), influenza is dangerous and the development of diseases such as otitis media, pleurisy and bronchitis in a complicated form. Pleurisy is dangerous and insidious in that it affects the membrane that covers the lungs.

Purulent inflammation of the middle ear - otitis media, can cause not only inflammatory processes in the ears, but also the neck and teeth. The influenza, which has given complications, can lead this disease to a chronic one, which is fraught with constant suppuration from the ears, frequent inflammation, and in severe form, partial hearing loss. A great danger at any stage of the flu is the appearance of an inflammatory process in the airways, through which oxygen passes to the lungs. The mucous membrane of the bronchi is damaged, thereby creating conditions for the multiplication of bacteria. If the patient follows all the recommendations for the flu, then the shell can be restored. But under a different course of circumstances, an ailment can cause serious pathological changes in the body.

Every year, doctors set a single indicator for the epidemiological threshold of influenza. Despite preventive measures against the disease, the influenza epidemic threshold annually changes its indicators upward, and most of it is made up of children and the elderly.

Clinical picture

The mechanism of development and origin of the disease lies in the fact that the pathogenesis of influenza has a number of features. At the beginning of the autumn-winter period, patients very often confuse influenza and parainfluenza.

These two states have completely different development patterns. Influenza is an acute, sudden and severe illness that begins with damage to the lungs. Parainfluenza manifests itself gradually with headache, cough, runny nose and changes in voice. The dominant influenza virus at the beginning of winter is seasonal, which gradually develops into type A and all its subtypes.

The classification of influenza has its own peculiarity: for many years infectious disease specialists have divided this disease into three types: influenza A, B and C. Of all forms, type C is the safest and easiest in its clinical development: it does not cause an epidemic and is characterized as a mild respiratory disease.

Influenza A virus type has various complications. The reason for this was the flu mutation, which leads to completely different reactions of the patient to the same type of virus. As a result of this feature, many people with weak immunity are very hard on the flu. The first type of disease is classified as seasonal. Sometimes, especially in the early stages of manifestation, its symptoms can be confused with colds, its course looks like ARVI, ARI. This type of illness begins when people become infected with the virus as a result of being constantly in stuffy, closed rooms with a lot of people. This type of flu is characterized by a number of complications, including:

• the appearance of bacterial pneumonia;
• violation of the water balance in the body;
• exacerbation of concomitant diseases;
• ear inflammation.

Doctors recommend treating this type of virus disease immediately with anti-influenza drugs. In addition, do not forget about wearing a gauze bandage so as not to infect others with influenza by airborne droplets. It is imperative to use vitamins and other agents that strengthen the immune system. Influenza in adults and children is treated in almost the same way, the only difference is the dosage.

Another subtype of virus A in medical practice is called avian influenza, in which poultry are carriers of the virus. Symptoms of this disease are very similar to those of colds, but can be complicated by the onset of pneumonia and heavy breathing. Typically, with this type of infection, patients die if treatment is not started at the earliest stages.

The third type is swine flu. It is very similar in its symptoms to the seasonal one, but high body temperature, fever, cough, intestinal upset, and lung damage are added to it. Treatment procedures are prescribed depending on the patient's immunity and on what signs of the disease prevail in him.

This type of illness requires home treatment. The patient needs bed rest with therapy prescribed by the doctor. With proper and timely treatment, the patient can count on recovery.

Disease types

It is customary to distinguish between such types of flu as:

• atypical;
• highly pathogenic;
• intestinal.

Atypical flu starts very quickly and differs from seasonal flu in its serious complications. He is very cunning, because a person can get sick with it in any season, even in summer. Its unexpected appearance suggests that the virus is constantly in the air, which causes danger.

Highly pathogenic influenza is a disease that occurs as a result of a particular strain of virus, such as avian flu, and poses a huge threat to human life.

Rotavirus flu, which appears as a result of a rotavirus intestinal infection, is no less dangerous.

Due to the fact that the incubation period of the disease is about five days, the patient becomes a carrier of infection from the first days. Although after an illness the body develops a strong immunity to this type of virus, a person can get sick twice. In the process of the disease, the intestinal mucosa is affected, and its inflammation begins.

Very often people confuse their flu-like condition with common colds. But there are features of the flu, and it is necessary to clearly distinguish between its symptoms and those of a cold, since improper treatment or running flu can lead to poor results. With the flu, the disease begins abruptly, with a cold - sluggishly. Colds are characterized by a low temperature.

With the flu, the fever becomes severe within a few hours and gives a high body temperature.

The characteristic of a cold is the preservation of working capacity, there are no symptoms of intoxication, there is no severe headache. With the flu, symptoms such as photophobia, severe headache and temporal lobe pain, dizziness, and muscle aches are observed. During an examination of the throat, a plaque on the tongue is often observed with flu, which may indicate a strong toxicity of the body. A cough and a feeling of heaviness in the chest with a cold are observed almost immediately. With flu, similar symptoms can occur only on the second day.

It is quite common with the flu that the eyes become red. Even after two to three weeks after the treatment of the disease, the patient may experience rapid fatigue, loss of strength, sleep disturbance, irritability.

Historical influenza epidemics

In world medical practice, there are cases when, during a pandemic (epidemic) of influenza, the most dangerous varieties of the influenza virus were, leading to mass deaths. Among these, it is worth noting the deadly Spanish flu, which claimed the lives of more than fifty million people. This is the most terrible epidemic in the history of mankind, which has disappeared into oblivion and today is not a threat to the world community.

Currently, there is the so-called goat flu - Q fever, which is spread by infected animals. A person can become infected with the virus of this flu only through close contact with an animal, or by eating its meat.

When a person becomes infected with goat flu, the size of the spleen and liver increases, a rash appears on the body, the pupils turn red, and symptoms of pneumonia develop. To date, infections have only been reported in the Netherlands.

Today, the once-dangerous Hong Kong flu, caused by the A (H3N2) virus, is a seasonal flu and is spreading in South Korea and China. It got its name from the main distribution in Hong Kong in 1969.

Modern infectious disease specialists noted a few years ago the emergence of a new viral variety, which, despite a very small threat to the world, gained widespread publicity and led to global panic. We are talking about a type of illness like the Chinese flu. After examining the molecular structure of the virus, scientists excluded it from the list of dangerous, giving it the status of the Chinese seasonal flu.

Preventive measures

One of the most important points in the treatment of a disease is its prevention. People prone to colds and viral diseases should prepare in advance to get over the flu as easily as possible.

The basis of prevention includes several components that help to effectively resist the disease. Getting vaccinated on time helps to survive the incidence of influenza. Today there are two types of vaccines: live and inactivated. Live vaccines contain groups of non-infectious and weakened viruses, inactivated ones do not contain live viruses. Vaccines "Grippol", "Microgen", "Fluarix", "Influvac" are very popular.

Strengthening the body in resisting the flu plays an important role. The use of fortified foods in the daily diet will help replenish the supply of nutrients, strengthen the body. Particular attention should be paid to vitamin C and group B.

During a difficult epidemiological situation, it is better not to visit places with a large crowd of people. This will help protect yourself from infection. A good antiviral agent is rinsing the nose with a sea salt solution. In order to prevent the mucous membrane from drying out, it is necessary to maintain air humidification in the apartment. This will help to avoid the accumulation and penetration of pathogenic bacteria into the nasopharyngeal mucosa, which cause a viral infection to multiply and lead to the spread of influenza. Do not forget that it is necessary to start hardening the body from the summer. Water procedures, cold rubdowns can be carried out at home in the winter.

Self-medication, the use of traditional medicine methods, which can not only complicate the healing process, but also lead to serious consequences, are especially dangerous. Only strict adherence to medical recommendations can give a positive result in the treatment of the disease.

We will study information about the epidemic of this disease in 2016, paying special attention to the first clinical manifestations, drug therapy, as well as measures to prevent such a serious illness as influenza.

Flu forecast for 2016

Scientists do not foretell outbreaks of this disease in 2016. But this does not mean that you should not take any measures to prevent this disease. After all, the influenza virus is considered the most dangerous disease of all viral infections.

This disease is most dangerous for people with chronic diseases (bronchial asthma, diseases of the lungs and cardiovascular system, diabetes mellitus), as well as a weakened immune response. Children, women expecting a baby and the elderly are at particular risk.

In 2016, experts predict the greatest activity of such strains as:

H1N1 - is a subtype of swine flu virus. It was about him in 2009 that became known to the whole world, due to the fact that he was the source of the epidemic all over the world.

This strain represents the greatest danger due to the complications caused, which are often fatal. These include pneumonia, sinusitis, and inflammation of the lining of the brain.

H3N2 - is a subtype of influenza type A. In Russia, it did not cause epidemics before, but it has become known since last year. Therefore, it can be called "young".

Its main danger is that it is not yet sufficiently studied, and among its main complications is the effect on the vascular system.

Yamagata virus - is a subtype of type B influenza, it is also a new little-studied strain that has difficulties in diagnosis. But WHO experts do not call it the most dangerous, since it rarely causes complications.

The first symptoms appear as early as 1-2 days from the moment of infection. The virus, once on the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, multiplies on the epithelial cells lining them at an incredible rate. In the first few hours, the pathogen destroys these cells, leading to their death.

The main characteristic symptom of the disease is high fever. Its rise to high numbers (38.5-40 ° C) is very sharp and stays at a high level for about 3 days.

Also, the symptoms of flu 2016 are:

• headache;
• dryness in the nasopharynx;
• chills;
• muscle pain;
• dry cough;
• lacrimation;
• decreased or complete lack of appetite;
• sore throat;
• photophobia;
• chest pain;
• weakness in the whole body;
• aching joints;
• excessive sweating.

Rarely, with the flu, there is a runny nose.

How to tell the flu from the common cold (ARI)

Memo: Swine Flu Protection

You need to protect yourself from influenza both individually and by the whole world as soon as a new dangerous virus is discovered. From this point on, the development of a new vaccine begins.

1. Vaccination.
   • The vaccine does not guarantee that the vaccinated patient will not get sick: it protects against several strains of seasonal flu, and the developers cannot guess which one will be this year, plus the viruses themselves mutate. Still, vaccinated citizens are less likely to get sick, and even if it does, the flu is usually easier to tolerate.
   • It is necessary to be vaccinated before the epidemic, and not in its midst, and if the person is already sick. (Now, most likely, vaccination is already useless).
2. Wearing a mask.
   • It is usually worn by healthy people, but in order not to infect the surrounding healthy people, a sick person needs to wear a mask.
   • For healthy people, the mask remains a means of preventing influenza: you need to wear it when visiting public places (in transport, clinics, shops).
3. Hygiene.

   Although the virus is transmitted by airborne droplets, the hands are an indirect transmitter:

   • On the hands of a patient, viruses are usually full. He touches them with other objects (handrails, pens, etc.), which are then taken by healthy people.
   • Infection occurs when a person touches his face with dirty hands or takes food with them.
   • The requirement to wash your hands many times a day is not an empty phrase. This is protection against the flu.
   • You should carry wet wipes with you and wipe your hands with them when you are away from home.
   • Refusing to shake hands during the flu is not an act of impoliteness, but a manifestation of education and love for one's neighbor.

4. Fresh air.

   The flu virus loves warm rooms with stagnant dry air, so during an epidemic you need to be outdoors as much as possible.

   Remember that your enemy with the flu is not a draft, but a closed window:

   • If the house is sick, and the room is blocked, then soon everyone will get sick.
   • If you have not yet become ill, but just brought a virus with you, then in an unventilated warm apartment it will begin to multiply at a wild rate.

5. Maintain optimal indoor temperature and humidity:

   • temperature - 20 ° C (quite cool, but this is the healthiest temperature in the epidemic season);
   • humidity - 50 - 70%.

   In winter, the house is very dry, so it is advisable to have a humidifier or keep containers of water open.

6. Healthy mucous membranes.
   Normal mucous membranes are the primary defense... It's not only about microbes, but about dryness of mucous membranes, which is often observed in winter for reasons:
   • dry air;
   • drug use:
     • nasal drops, such as naphthyzine;
     • diphenhydramine, suprastin, etc.

It is good to moisten mucous membranes with a spray, using any bottle of spray drops:

• Pour physiological or normal saline solution (a teaspoon of salt per liter of water) into a bottle.
• Spray the solution into the nose as often as possible, especially in crowded areas.

Arriving home, you need to do a "general" rinsing of the nose to remove the viruses that have settled in it:

• pinching one nostril, the other "drink" saline;
• repeat the same with the second nostril.

Flu symptoms: comparison with SARS

The symptoms of SARS and flu are similar in many ways. The main differences relate to the general condition of patients, temperature, onset and duration of the disease:

SARS symptoms

• With ARVI, the general condition as a whole can be satisfactory, despite the weakness. Local symptoms predominate - sore throat, runny nose, cough.
• ARVI begins with a slight sore throat, nasal congestion, and coughing. Then the signs gradually increase over the course of one to two days.
• The temperature rarely reaches values \u200b\u200babove 38.5 ° C and lasts for two to three days.
• Symptoms of a runny nose, sneezing, lacrimation appear, dry cough intensifies (after a week it becomes productive with sputum).
• There is a plaque on the mucous membranes, redness and looseness of the throat.
• SARS passes on average in a week.
• Recovery comes immediately - the patient is actively involved in his old life.

Swine flu symptoms

1. General condition - severe:
   • possible nausea, vomiting, joint and muscle pain, headaches - symptoms of intoxication;
   • chills, sweating, increased photosensitivity and pain in the eyes;
   • complete breakdown.
2. A lightning-fast start with a rise in temperature to high values \u200b\u200band a deterioration in well-being in a few hours.
3. The temperature rises to 39 ° and above and lasts for about five days, responding poorly to taking antipyretics.
4. Symptoms of a runny nose and nasal congestion are absent with a sore throat.
5. Dry cough almost from the first hours.
6. Swine flu causes complications:
   • viral pneumonia (in its advanced form, it is irreversible);
   • thrombosis (increased blood clotting).
7. The period of duration of the acute period of influenza is from a week to ten days.
8. Recovery occurs slowly, within two to three weeks after the acute period has passed:
   • All this time, the patient has a feeling of fatigue and weakness.

Swine flu 2016: how to treat it

There is still no cure for the flu.

• Antibodies of the body's immune system fight against viruses, so the treatment of influenza is through strengthening the immune system.
• In addition to the body's own forces, antiviral agents help, destroying the structure of the virus and preventing their reproduction, but each type of flu needs its own medicines.
• Antibiotics do not treat flu - they are useless and can lead to complications.

You can eat garlic, drink tea with lemon, ginger root - all this is useful, but it is a prevention, not a remedy, if a person is already sick.

H1N1 flu drugs

Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is still the only effective antiviral drug for H1N1 flu - not to be confused with teraflu!

There is also zanamivir, but it is difficult to find it in domestic pharmacies.

• Tamiflu works by blocking neuraminidase, a protein that is part of the H1N1 virus.
• You need to drink Tamiflu in the first two days of illness - in the following, its effectiveness, like any antiviral agent, sharply decreases.
• It is impossible to take it as self-medication and "just in case", as the medicine has many severe side effects.
• The medicine is prescribed by a doctor for severe flu or for patients at risk (elderly, debilitated, chronic patients, asthmatics, etc.).

Tamiflu is mainly distributed among hospitals, and this is doubly reasonable:

• the medicine in the pharmacy is expensive, but in the hospital it should be free;
• reception is prescribed when it is really needed.

In most cases, H1N1 flu is relatively easy to carry, thanks to the body's defenses: this is also evidenced by statistics, so most patients with Tamiflu or Zanamavir are not required.

General rules for the treatment of influenza

1. Bed rest from the very first day: no courageous dedication at work with the infection of others:
   • Most victims of the flu are workaholics, carrying the disease on the go.
2. For flu symptoms, it is preferable to call a doctor or an ambulance at home:
   • Sitting in a queue for many hours will add three extra viruses to the patient, including the same H1N1, which the person may not have at the entrance to the clinic.
3. The patient needs to be wrapped up well, but the room itself should be fresh and humid:
   • it is necessary to ventilate the room where the patient lies several times a day;
   • constant room air humidification is required.
4. Drinking plenty of fluids is a prerequisite for treatment. You need to drink not just a lot, but a lot:
   • teas with chamomile, calendula, linden, raspberries, black currants;
   • compotes from apples, dried fruits, dried apricots;
   • rosehip decoctions;
   • milk with honey and soda.
5. It is unnecessary to take food to the patient until he wants to himself. Therefore, do not persuade to eat "for strength", especially children.
6. It is not necessary to bring down the temperature above 38 - 38.5 degrees: at high temperatures, viruses die en masse.
   • Fever above 39 is reduced with paracetomol or ibuprofen for influenza: taking aspirin is dangerous!
   • If the temperature is under forty, it will ease the patient's condition by rubbing the forehead, hands and feet with a vinegar solution or an alcohol solution.

When a doctor call is needed

Due to the danger of swine flu, it is recommended to call a doctor at the slightest suspicion of H1N1.

However, in practice, during an epidemic, it is not easy to wait for the arrival of a medical worker - there are not enough of them for all patients. The family doctor just physically does not have time to bypass all the patients. With ARVI, a delay of 10 - 20 hours is not scary, but with the flu it is life threatening.

In what situation do you need an immediate ambulance?

• with loss of consciousness;
• convulsions;
• intense pain of any localization;
• sore throat without a runny nose
• headache with vomiting;
• temperature above 39 °, not dropping half an hour after taking antipyretics;
• the appearance of a skin rash;
• swelling of the neck.

If you are being treated for ARVI or influenza, then in the following situations, you definitely need a doctor:

• There is no improvement on the fourth day.
• The temperature stays on the seventh day.
• After the improvement, suddenly there was another deterioration.
• Severe condition with moderate signs of SARS.
• Pallor, shortness of breath, thirst, severe pain, purulent discharge - alone or in combination.
• Increased cough, long dry cough, attack of coughing with a deep breath.
• Weak effect of antipyretics.

What complications should be feared

IMPORTANT: at the first symptoms, call a doctor. You do not need to go to the clinic, because you can infect those who came there healthy or catch another infection.

Doctor only can assign highly qualified assistance... And here self-medication can lead to irreversible complications. If you start treating swine flu in the first 48 hoursthen the flu can be treated painlessly. If later, then complications in the form of severe pneumonia are guaranteed to you.

So far, the statistics do not give serious cause for panic. It is possible that doctors, as always, are exaggerating.

http://advices4lady.org/302-gripp-2016-simptomy/ and http://zaspiny.ru/novosti-mediciny/svinoy-gripp-2016.html

On the eve of the cold winter, doctors are studying the epidemiological situation in the country and in the world with redoubled activity. This is done in order to warn the population of potentially possible viruses and to create conditions in time that do not allow isolated outbreaks of the disease to turn into a global pandemic.

Epidemiologists suggest that SARS and seasonal viral influenza 2016-2017 will intensify in November-December this year. Symptoms and signs of A strains will appear a little later in adults and children (presumably in early January 2017). However, doctors are confident that the incidence rate will not exceed last year's indicators and each person will receive timely medical assistance and necessary services for treatment and speedy recovery.

The only thing the doctors ask about is not to self-medicate, but to immediately contact a specialist, especially in case of exacerbation of the primary symptoms. This will help to localize the focus of infection in time and prevent viruses from spreading further. Therefore, if you suddenly felt unwell, started coughing and sneezing, felt acute chest pains and severe weakness, do not postpone treatment indefinitely, but immediately go to the doctor. According to the primary symptoms, he will be able to determine in time the nature of the disease, even without a temperature, and immediately prescribe the correct treatment. Only then will the virus be quickly defeated and it will not give any unpleasant and dangerous complications to the body of adults and children.

Influenza 2016-2017: the forecast of virologists about what kind of flu is expected

For the autumn-winter period of 2016-2017, virologists make a disappointing forecast: not only traditional colds and ARVIs await us, but several types of flu, each of which is dangerous in its own way, both for children and adults. The epidemic season will begin at the end of October and will last almost until spring. The most actively circulating strains of the influenza virus are:

• H1N1 or swine flu. It is a subtype of influenza A virus, which is considered one of the most widespread on the planet and causes the most widespread epidemics, accompanied by a large number of fatalities. It is distributed both among people and among animals and birds. WHO first reported large foci of this disease in June 2009. The virus is transmitted in several ways: aerogenic - from the carrier to the victim in the process of sneezing or coughing; contact-household - in case of non-observance of the rules of personal hygiene (washing hands) after touching objects that have got elements of the virus that spreads the disease; passive - when eating contaminated pork, cooked without proper heat treatment.
• H2N2 or Asian flu. It first manifested itself in February 1957 in southern China and caused a devastating epidemic there. The deadly virus killed between 1 and 4 million people in a year. In early spring, the disease spread to Singapore, and already in May, the border territories of the Soviet Union felt the impact of the influenza virus. By the end of 1957 in the USSR, the number of patients affected by the Asian flu ranged from 30 to 50 percent of the total population. A slight decline in the disease around the world was outlined only in the fall of 1958, but in December the pandemic entered the second active phase and covered the Middle East. It was possible to curb the virus only by December 1959, however, as a result of its march around the world, from 1.5 to 2 billion people were ill, and more than 1 million people from different countries died as a result of the pandemic. By 1968, the strain of this virus was finally "supplanted" and since then the vaccination of adults and children against H2N2 has not been carried out, and there is no immunity in modern people born after 1969 to this disease. WHO warns everyone about a possible H2N2 epidemic, since the cyclicity of viral manifestations of this kind is 60 years and 2017 may well become the beginning of a new round of a pandemic.
• H3N2 or Hong Kong flu. One of the fairly old viruses that killed many people around the world in the late 60s of the last century. Similar in symptoms to swine flu, but considered somewhat less dangerous to humans. Most often, it affects not an active, able-bodied population under 60, but children whose immune system has not yet fully formed, and older citizens who have a weakened body due to age-related changes and all kinds of chronic diseases of varying severity. The disease poses a great danger to pregnant women, diabetics, heavy smokers, HIV-infected people and people who consume alcoholic beverages in large quantities. The highest mortality rate from Hong Kong flu is observed among children under 2 years of age and elderly people 65 and over.

Classic and specific (dangerous) symptoms of 2017 flu in adults

Most of the symptoms of the above strains are manifested in adults in the same way as the usual seasonal viral flu or ARVI. In almost all cases, the temperature rises, there is pain in the throat, a constant cough sharpens, and the nose is irritated by a profuse runny nose. The body aches from muscle pain, and the sudden onset of weakness makes you want to lie down, instead of going to work or doing your usual household chores. Such an unpleasant condition is accompanied by severe headaches, constant chills and tachycardia.

Dangerous symptoms of influenza A strains in adults

When various strains of influenza enter the body, the classic manifestations of the common cold are aggravated and complicated by additional symptoms. The patient should, without wasting a single minute, consult a specialized doctor for treatment or call an ambulance if:

1. The temperature during the day is stably kept at around 39-40 degrees and no antipyretic drugs can bring it down. Or if within 4-5 days the temperature does not drop below 38 degrees, despite active treatment, regular intake of appropriate medications, vitamins and tablets.
2. Severe aching pain, aches and weakness are felt throughout the body. Nausea comes to the throat, there are sudden unreasonable urge to vomit, pulls the lower abdomen, periodically there is diarrhea, and when urinating there are difficulties or the urge is completely absent for a long time. All this is accompanied by shortness of breath, shortness of breath, blue lips, signs of dehydration, cramps in the limbs, confusion and general disorientation.
3. The disease progresses very actively and the patient's condition worsens, literally, before our eyes, sometimes for several hours. The incubation period of influenza strains is very short and usually ranges from 2 to 4 days, so it is very important to identify the type of influenza as soon as possible and create all the conditions for a quality treatment of the disease.
4. Intense inflammatory processes immediately following an increase in temperature. With the usual seasonal flu, this is expressed only in a runny nose and cough. When the organism is affected by strains, the mucous membrane is often inflamed, and in severe cases, viral pneumonia, insensitive to classical antibiotics, occurs. This is the most dangerous moment, since the complication progresses rapidly and, in the absence of timely and correct treatment, can cause death, moreover, just a day after observing the first symptoms of the complication.

Influenza: characteristic signs and symptoms in children

The symptoms and signs of influenza in children are very similar to those in adults. In the same way, babies' temperature rises sharply, weakness and lethargy roll in, a sore throat and a cough with a runny nose torment them. Influenza strains affect young patients even more severely than adults. Children are especially vulnerable to some of their symptoms, and according to some indicators they are even at risk of death in the absence of timely and qualified treatment.

• With viral flu in preschool and school children, the larynx, large bronchi and trachea are primarily affected. It is there that the most global changes in the morphological plan take place. In the lung tissue, blood circulation is impaired, and small hemorrhages occur in the pleura. The younger the child's age, the higher the risk of the formation of a focus of serous inflammation in the lungs and the subsequent development of pneumonia.
• Symptoms of strains of category A appear in children within 2 days, influenza B - in 3-4 days. The most acute phase is the onset of the disease. At this moment, the temperature "takes off" to 39-40 ° C and it is not always possible to bring it down quickly. Children feel as bad as possible at the end of the first day and sometimes a serious condition (weakness, joint and muscle pain, increased lethargy) passes over to the second day of the disease.
• Almost always, the flu in children is accompanied by such a symptom as a sharp decrease in appetite, and in especially difficult cases, a complete refusal to eat. Nausea and vomiting, severe headache, insomnia, rarely delirium and hallucinations are likely.
• The following symptoms are most typical for the active course of the disease: cough, mucous discharge from the nose, acute sore throat, complications when swallowing, segmental pulmonary edema, pallor of the skin and increased sweating. In difficult cases, meningeal symptoms, short-term fainting, limb cramps and nosebleeds are possible.

Influenza 2016-2017 - prevention and treatment in adults and children

Among the preventive procedures that help adults and children protect themselves from the symptoms of the 2016-2017 flu and SARS, timely vaccination is considered the most effective. It is held in early autumn (September to October). This is done so that by the beginning of a potentially possible epidemic of viral infections, the body becomes stronger and has time to develop immunity. Vaccination of children and adults is carried out with the help of medicines containing surface antigens of influenza strains. After 14-30 days, the vaccine enters an active phase and the person becomes practically immune to disease.

For adults and children who, for personal reasons, are unable to get vaccinated against influenza, a special option is offered for the prevention and treatment of primary symptoms: regular intake of immunomodulators, strict adherence to the rules of personal hygiene, restriction on being in public places, the use of personal protective equipment, etc.

If, despite all precautions, children or adults show the primary signs and symptoms of the disease, you should immediately consult a doctor for qualified medication. When all the necessary drugs are prescribed, they will need to be taken in strict accordance with the instructions of the doctor. In addition, it is necessary to minimize contact with people, limit (or abolish altogether) any physical activity, adhere to bed rest (even when the disease passes without fever), eat well and take vitamins. These rules are equally relevant for both adults and children and must be followed.

According to the WHO, the influenza virus constantly undergoes mutation processes, so experts have to conduct a wide range of tests in order to find the strain of the new season and develop another program of prevention and therapy.

As you know, the epidemiological picture undergoes significant changes every 10-20 years, which is why new approaches are always needed in the fight against a new type of virus.

The flu of 2016 will rage in the coldest time of the year, roughly from late November to mid-February. Epidemiologists promise that this time no anomalous phenomena will be observed, but outbreaks of influenza will not do without. It is especially important to monitor health in the winter of 2016 for those who is at risk :

• elderly people;
• children of preschool and primary school age;
• patients with chronic diseases of the respiratory system;
• patients with weakened immune systems;
• pregnant women.

What will the flu be like in 2016?

WHO experts warn that one should not meet winter without preventive measures: it is important to take care of your health as quickly as possible. If someone in the family already has the flu, it is necessary to isolate the sick person so that other household members cannot get the virus.

Epidemiologists have listed several strains that have already been discovered earlier, but will be observed at the beginning of the new 2016:

Strain name	Specifications
A / Switzerland / 9715293/2013 (H3N2)	The strain belongs to the group of virus A. It is dangerous by a number of complications. According to experts, the virus is capable of affecting the cardiovascular system.
A / California / 7/2009 (H1N1) pdm09	The strain was discovered in 2009. It is believed to be a type of swine flu. The virus is dangerous for the development of severe sinusitis, the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the meninges. Without timely access to a doctor, it can lead to more serious complications, including death.
B / Phuket / 3073/2013 (B / Yamagata)	Group B strain. Currently, this virus is still being studied in laboratories. Scientists consider it one of the most "mysterious" flu viruses of 2016, while they call it the least dangerous strain, because it does not cause any serious complications.
B / Brisbane / 60/2008	A similar characteristic (see the previous paragraph).

The incidence of influenza and ARVI will increase in the first month of 2016. In February, experts predict an epidemic of moderate intensity.

What is important to know about flu symptoms?

Flu symptoms depend on the group to which the virus belongs. For strains of group A characteristic signs such as chills, low-grade fever, headaches, "cold" condition, accompanied by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose and throat, runny nose, sore throat. Viruses of this group cause influenza of mild severity, since they do not lead to significant complications in most cases.

Group B viruses more dangerous for human health and life, because they can lead to the development of hemorrhagic and segmental edema, bronchitis in severe form. With the flu caused by a strain of this group, a high temperature rises, signs of intoxication of the body appear. In this case, dizziness, muscle and headaches can be observed. The severe condition is sometimes accompanied by fainting and hallucinations.

Flu vaccination in 2016

Doctors strongly recommend getting preventive vaccination. An effective vaccine "Grippol Plus" is currently used in Russia. At the same time, according to experts, the composition of preparations for vaccination was updated by 2016. Experts hope vaccinations will help protect against three of the most common viruses.

Vaccination is mandatory for the following patients:

• children aged 6 months;
• elderly people over 60;
• students;
• pregnant women;
• patients working in the communal, educational, medical and transport sectors.

The advantage of vaccination lies not only in its high efficiency, but also in the ability to combine with other vaccinations. The only exception is the vaccine against tuberculosis disease.

What to do when the first signs of flu appear?

If it's too late to think about prevention, while the first symptoms of the flu are already making themselves felt, you need to urgently take up treatment. To avoid possible complications, reduce the activity of the virus and restore the body faster, it is important to adhere to the following rules:

• Observe bed rest. Remember that carrying the disease "on your feet" is harmful and even dangerous to health and life. Firstly, the general state of health from this will only worsen. Secondly, the patient will be ill much longer than with bed rest. The risk of severe complications and other consequences of influenza increases significantly.
• Drink more fluids. With an increase in temperature and intoxication of the body, intense sweating is often observed. During this period, the body needs to replenish its fluid reserves, therefore it is recommended to consume herbal tea, fruit drink, juice (freshly squeezed to obtain vitamins) and plain clean water as often as possible.
• Carry out wet cleaning indoors where the patient is. It is important to maintain a humid climate in the patient's room. Be sure to ventilate the room several times a day, use aroma and salt lamps to kill viruses.
• Eat properly. Even with a poor appetite, be sure to include vegetables, fruits, soups, boiled meat and oatmeal in your diet. Now vitamins are especially important for your body.
• Take medications. Antihistamines (Pipolfen, Chlorphenamine) should be taken to relieve flu symptoms; vasoconstrictor agents (Naphthyzin, Otrivin, etc.); antipyretic drugs (Aspirin). For the effect on the virus and immunity, you may be advised by interferon inducers (Arbidol, Cycloferon), blockers of the viral protein M2 (Rimantadin), neuraminidase inhibitors (Zanamivir, Oseltamivir) and others.

If you feel unwell and the temperature rises, be sure to consult a doctor and do not engage in treatment without his consultation and preliminary examination.