How to identify and treat flu?

Symptoms of the disease differ from ARVI, and depend on the form and course of the disease. There are three types of flu.

• Mild (low temperature, mild toxicosis).
• Moderate (fever, fever up to 40°C, sweating, headaches, muscle, joint pain, cough, hyperemia, runny nose, dehydration, diarrhea).
• Hypertoxic (in addition to all the previously listed manifestations, seizures, vomiting, nosebleeds, convulsions are added).

There is an opinion that you do not need to run to the doctor at the first "sneeze", but help will be needed if the disease does not go away within 3 - 5 days. People at risk should also exercise extreme caution. These are patients with impaired renal, cardiac, and pulmonary function, as well as those suffering from diabetes and immunodeficiency.

The disease can be diagnosed using laboratory tests. There are several ways to determine the type of disease.

• The fluorescent antibody method involves detecting viral antibodies in the epithelial cells of the nasal passages. To do this, take a smear from the nose no later than 4-6 days after the onset of the lesion.
• Polymerase chain reaction determination. Samples from the pharynx and nasopharynx are checked for the presence of the pathogen's genetic materials (DNA, RNA).

These types of clinical studies are used in cases of epidemics and are carried out in hospitals by the sanitary and epidemiological service. For ordinary people, an rapid test has been developed, which works on the principle of a pregnancy test.

If the flu proceeds without any particular complications, then after visiting a doctor, you can begin treatment. It is allowed to take:

• drugs that increase immunity ("Adzhikold", "Agri");
• antihistamines ("Suprastin", "Tavegil");
• cough syrups and tablets ("Gedelix", "Bronholitin", "Gerbion");
• thinning agents that promote the removal of phlegm ("Mukaltin", "Althea Tincture");
• steam inhalations (tinctures of mint, St. John's wort, sage);
• vasoconstrictor sprays or drops (Pinosol, Naphthyzinum);
• antipyretic drugs (Panadol, Paracetamol);
• large amounts of liquid (teas, fruit drinks, juices, compote).

Self-medication for severe forms of flu is strictly prohibited. The disease can lead to negative consequences. Only a specialist can predict the development of the disease.

Complications of the disease can include pneumonia, pulmonary failure, Reye's syndrome, encephalitis and meningitis. When the body is weakened, additional possibilities of pneumococcal, hemophilic or staphylococcal infection open up.

Prevention of epidemics consists of taking simple steps to improve health and personal hygiene.

• Vaccination (introduction of a small infectious agent. This stimulates the immune system to subsequently fight the virus).
• Wearing a mask (cotton-gauze bandage).
• Taking multivitamins and ascorbic acid (kiwi, lemon, orange, currant contain a lot of vitamin C).
• Regular nasal rinsing (removal of cavity microbes with various infusions. For example, onion or honey).
• Gargling (you can use potassium permanganate, soda, salt).

It is important to remember that the flu virus is easily transmitted through contact with an infected person. The range of dispersion of infected particles in the air usually does not exceed 2 meters. Therefore, during the spread of the epidemic, it is advisable to protect yourself from contact with a large number of people.