Infectious diseases >>>> How to treat respiratory viral diseases

How to treat respiratory viral diseases.

Respiratory viral diseases (ARVI, Influenza, Rhinovirus infection, Parainfluenza, Adenovirus , Reovirus, respiratory syncytial viral infection) belong to the group of infectious diseases transmitted by airborne droplets.

The causative agent of viral infections are viruses. They have a very simple composition: nucleic acid, protein, and several substances such as fats and sugars. Viruses multiply thanks to the cell into which they are introduced. They seem to change the cell development program, adjusting it to their needs. In fact, being infected with a viral infection is like capturing a ship by pirates and changing its course.

Respiratory viral infections are usually seasonal in nature, as viruses survive better in moderate low temperatures and high humidity. Although there are a number of respiratory viral infections that can be contracted at any time and in all weather conditions (herpes virus, adenovirus, coronavirus and many other viruses ).

As a rule, people are exposed to seasonal respiratory diseases as a result of hypothermia, stress, physical overload, chronic dysbacteriosis and other factors that reduce and weaken immunity , which cannot properly reflect the attack of viruses.

Before starting treatment for a viral infection, it is necessary to understand the differential diagnosis of viral infections, that is, to understand how they differ from bacterial infections. Viruses are inherently very different from bacteria. Therefore, the methods of exposure to viruses and bacteria are different. If antibacterial drugs (antibiotics, bacteriophages) are suitable for the treatment of a bacterial infection , then antiviral drugs have not been developed for all types of viral infections (there are such drugs for the treatment of herpes, AIDS, viral hepatitis).

How to distinguish a viral infection?

The phased development of the disease is a distinctive feature of viral infections (as, indeed, of all infectious diseases), that is, there are four stages - four periods of development and course of a viral disease:

The incubation period is the time when the virus enters the body, but does not yet make itself felt, since it did not have time to multiply to a shock amount. For a person, this stage of the disease proceeds imperceptibly, without symptoms. For respiratory viral diseases, it can last from 1 to 5 days. The duration of the incubation period depends on the virulence (degree of toxicity) of the virus, and since there are about 300 types of respiratory viruses (they all fit into the groups: ARVI viruses, Influenza viruses, Parainfluenza viruses, Reoviruses, Adenoviruses, Rhinoviruses), then the incubation periods may differ in duration.

The prodromal period (translated from the Greek "harbinger") is a stage in the development of the disease, when nonspecific (atypical for a certain disease) signs of a violation of the general state of the body are outlined (general weakness or weakness; poor sleep or, conversely, agitation; headache, neuralgic pain). By the symptoms of this period in the development of a viral disease, one can judge that a person begins to have a disease, but which one is not yet clear.

The height of the disease is the stage at which the disease "gains strength." During this period, symptoms characteristic of certain diseases appear, which makes it possible to clarify the diagnosis.

Signs of a viral disease are:

Runny nose (sneezing)
Sore throat
Edema of the mucous membranes of the mouth and nasopharynx
Subfebrile temperature (37 - 37.5 in Celsius)
Minor violations of the general condition of the body (influenza differs from other respiratory diseases by a sharp violation of the general condition and high fever)

An indicator such as a rise in temperature indicates that the immune system has already begun to resist a viral attack, since, as mentioned above, viruses do not like high temperatures. It follows that the temperature below 39.5 in Celsius should not be brought down, since this is one of the body's immune responses to the introduction of a viral infection.
Neuralgic pains of a different nature caused by the neurotropic effect of the virus (for example, toothache (sometimes several adjacent teeth hurt at the same time), headache, pain in the extremities).

Why is it about neurotropic action? Because there are viral strains that can move along the nerve trunks of the central nervous system and infect neurons. Such viruses are called neurotropic viruses and they are not accessible to leukocytes and macrophages, acting only within the blood vessel system (in other words, they are inaccessible to the immune system).
Fever
Breaking pains in muscles and joints

Convalescence is a stage in the course of the disease when the symptoms of the disease diminish and gradually disappear. The duration of this period depends on the severity of the course of the disease, the quality of treatment, concomitant diseases and the associated infection. During this period, it is necessary to distinguish between the residual effects of the disease and complications that have arisen in the course of the disease and / or due to the associated infection. Often, the addition of a bacterial infection to a viral infection complicates the treatment of viral diseases and prolongs the recovery period. For example, a sore throat that occurs at the time of a viral infection can turn into a cough, which in turn is a sign of bronchitis or pneumonia, and these are already complications, and they are treated differently (if necessary with antibacterial agents).

One of the main evidence-based signs of a viral infection is a blood test, which informs the doctor about the presence of an increased number of leukocytes (monocytes and lymphocytes) in the blood. Lymphocytes and monocytes are an indicator of the immune response to a viral infection. Monocytes will subsequently turn into macrophages. With a viral infection, the number of lymphocytes is greater than that of monocytes (macrophages). In bacterial infection, there are more monocytes than lymphocytes. So the immune system selects the tools to influence the appropriate microorganism (virus or bacterium).

How can you help the immune system in the fight against viral infection?

Recognition of the beginning and end of each of the periods of the course of a viral disease is necessary for the correct distribution of therapeutic actions - the use of drugs.

There are two groups of drugs that can counteract viral infections:

Immunostimulants - forcing the immune system to produce leukocytes (as if "shaking up" the immune system and stimulating the production of interferon).

Immunocorrectors - they themselves contain human leukocyte or recombinant interferon and add it to the already available amount of interferon produced by a sick person.

Immunostimulants are better and more effective to use during the prodromal period, and immunocorrectors - at the height of the disease.

When joining or suspecting a bacterial infection, they start taking antibacterial agents.

In addition to the above, it is necessary to take into account the development of allergic reactions during illness. Antiallergic drugs are taken to improve the condition.

Further treatment of the disease is carried out in accordance with the symptoms of the course of the disease, that is, for headaches, analgesics are taken, for coughing - drugs appropriate to the nature of the cough (mucolytic and expectorant), for nasal congestion - decongestant drops, at high temperatures that require lowering - antipyretic drugs.

Drinking plenty of water and vitamins is a necessary addition to all diseases associated with the work of the immune system and the state of intoxication. It is a large amount of liquid drunk in different versions (tea, milk, warm water, juices at room temperature, fruit drinks, infusions) that will allow the body to quickly remove toxic substances produced by the aggressor microorganism.