Influenza is an infectious disease that always occurs in a severe form and carries the risks of complications. The flu symptoms are similar to the clinical picture of colds, with the difference that it occurs suddenly, develops rapidly and has heavy intensity.

Disease factors

Influenza occurs due to the ingestion of pathogenic microflora – virus A and B. Influenza A virus can penetrate the body of both humans and animals, causing respiratory disease. Type B virus only affects humans. A serious form of the disease is influenza A virus, and this type of disease can cause epidemics and severe pandemics.

In children and adults, the ways of infection with the flu are the same – by airborne droplets or in the household from an infected person. Food contamination is also possible if food products have not passed the necessary thermal preparation.

Clinical picture

Influenza is a disease characterised by the appearance of a sudden, pronounced symptomatic picture. The first signs of the disease are an increase in body temperature, chills, internal heat. In the initial stages, many confuse an influenza infection with a cold, as a result of which they carry out the wrong treatment.

In the case of a mild form of the disease, the temperature rises to 38 degrees. In the presence of weakened immunity, an increase in temperature indicators can reach very high levels. Common signs of flu are:

• cough;
• weakness and apathy;
• drowsiness;
• headache;
• dizziness attacks;
• a sore throat;
• runny nose;
• changes in heart rate;
• intoxication of the body.

The peak manifestation of the clinical picture appears 2-4 days after infection. After a few days, the body temperature will begin to stabilise, and the heartbeat and pulse will normalise.

How to diagnose this infection?

Flu treatment should be established by your healthcare provider. Despite the similarity of the symptoms of the disease with ARI or the common cold, the flu has high risks of complications, in particular, from the cardiovascular system. Influenza virus treatment should be competent and timely.

To diagnose the disease, the doctor examines the patient, examines his symptomatic picture. To determine the type of infectious microflora, a smear is taken from the mucous membrane of the throat wall and nasal cavity. For the treatment of influenza in children and adults to go right, and the disease not to cause serious complications, an X-ray of the lungs is performed, with severe intoxication of the body, an electrocardiogram is prescribed.

Therapeutic measures

Flu treatment is symptomatic. If there is a runny nose, nasal drops are used. You can use vasoconstrictive drops for no longer than 5-7 days, so if flu treatment is delayed, inhalation with medicinal herbs and eucalyptus are recommended.

Cough, pain in the bronchi is treated with expectorant medications, mustard plasters can be used (in children under 1-year-old it is strictly forbidden to use mustard plasters). At high temperatures, antipyretic drugs are prescribed, which can be used if the temperature is above 38 degrees.

Treatment of influenza virus should be comprehensive, alternative methods can be applied only with the permission of the attending physician and solely as an additional therapeutic measure. Treatment of influenza in adults and children with antibiotics is carried out if other drugs do not have the desired effect, and if the disease is prolonged. In adults and children, the treatment of influenza A virus is carried out immediately with antibiotics.