ARVI is a group of infectious diseases caused by viruses. Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) begin their spread throughout the human body with contamination of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract (nasopharynx). After the viruses attach to the mucous membrane, they begin to multiply vigorously and when a certain number of viral cells are reached, which the body’s immune system cannot cope with, the viruses begin to infect target organs, causing one or another clinical picture of ARVI
Viruses that cause ARVI
Most viruses that cause ARVI have their own “favorite” places for localization, which determines the clinical picture of the disease. The only factor that unites all viruses belonging to the ARVI group is the involvement of the respiratory (respiratory) system and organs close to it in the inflammatory process.
For example: influenza viruses primarily affect the upper and lower respiratory tracts, parainfluenza is more often localized on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, adenovirus, in addition to the organs of the respiratory system, causes conjunctivitis, with the characteristic formation of fibril films, reoviruses affect the organs of the oropharynx, as well as lymphoid tissue and can cause lymphadenitis, rotaviruses often manifest themselves in the initial stages of the disease as a respiratory infection with further damage to the gastrointestinal tract and the manifestation of intestinal syndrome.
ARVI includes a wide range of viruses, which determines the diversity of clinical manifestations, severity of the disease and severity of manifestations.
ARVI is widespread - it is one of the most common infectious diseases affecting both adults and children. The main route of transmission of viral infection is airborne droplets, which is why such a high prevalence of ARVI is associated.
Children and elderly people become infected with ARVI more often, due to the failure and weakening of the immune system; the diseases are often aggressive in nature and lead to complications in the form of a bacterial infection, dysfunction of the respiratory, cardiovascular and urinary systems. ARVI can be accompanied by bleeding and hemorrhages in organs and tissues, since most viruses included in the ARVI group have high toxigenic activity against the vascular wall.
Consultation for parents “On the prevention of influenza, acute respiratory infections, ARVI and colds in children”
Natalia Karpova
Consultation for parents “On the prevention of influenza, acute respiratory infections, ARVI and colds in children”
About the prevention of influenza , acute respiratory infections, ARVI and colds in children .
For parents, there is no worse test than childhood illnesses, so in most families, the health of children always comes first. But worries and worries alone are not enough to protect a child from illness. The cold is an uninvited guest that comes to children and adults every year. But children's immunity copes worse with this test, and as a result, colds “stick”
to the baby too often.
A child may catch a cold and get sick several times a month. Timely prevention of colds in children will protect them from illness and at the same time prevent the cold from turning into a chronic disease that will have to be fought for the rest of their lives. To begin with, it should be taken into account that the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections in children is not only taking vitamins, although they are also necessary. First of all, look around. What did you see in your baby's room? If there is dust lying around, wipe it off immediately. Are there a lot of soft toys around? They will also have to be removed, replaced with alternative ones. If you think that these are extremes, then decide for yourself what is more important: a healthy child or a sick child, but with a bunch of plush toys. They are the main dust collectors, and where there is a lot of dust, the infection feels most comfortable. Are there carpets in the child's room? The children's room is not the halls of the Persian padishah, so please remove the carpets from the walls. They are ideal dust collectors and have no place near a child. The next point of your research is the air in the child’s room. Check the humidity and temperature in the nursery. In order for the prevention of ARVI in children to bring tangible results, it is very important to maintain the correct temperature in the room. The air should not be hot and dry; this harms not only an already sick baby, but also sharply reduces the immunity of a healthy one. If possible, dress or cover the child warmly, but open the window in his room more often - fresh and moist air from the street kills pathogenic viruses and bacteria and prevents the mucous membranes from drying out. Allow your child to breathe fresh, moist air. Do not forget, of course, about hygiene and daily routine; without them, preventing colds in children is impossible . As already mentioned, the child needs vitamins. Whether you buy them or give them fresh is up to you. First of all, the prevention of acute respiratory infections in children should be supported by vitamin C. It is found in many fruits and greens. In addition, vitamin C can be purchased in pharmacies in the form of tablets or dragees. Remember about other vitamins and minerals, they are also involved in the functioning of the immune system. Medicines from the interferon group will help support and strengthen the child’s body’s defenses. That is, such drugs, the action of which is aimed at strengthening the immune system. In the pharmacy you can find interferon in different versions: drops, ointment, tablets or suppositories. Choose a method of administering the medicine into the body that is convenient for you and your baby - the only important thing is that the baby is comfortable. Prevention of influenza in children consists of the same precautions as prevention of acute respiratory infections in children . A good way to protect a child’s body from viruses and bacteria, especially during flu epidemics and seasonal colds , are essential oils. Preventing colds in children using essential oils is effective and safe. Diffusing essential oils in a room disinfects the air and creates a pleasant aroma. In addition, essential oils have a beneficial effect on the psychological state. for parents to use Dyshi essential oils, because they do not require contact with the child’s delicate mucous membranes (unlike ointments)
.
Breathe oil is available in the form of an aerosol or drops. You can take the bottle with you if you and your child go to a clinic, store, cinema - in short, to places where a large number of people will be in a confined space . If your child is already quite independent, you can give him a bottle of Breathe oil to school, a trip, or even to a concert. Just 3-4 drops of essential oil on a scarf or collar, and your child is protected from encountering pathogens. Prevention of colds in children is very important and necessary. Sensible parents should take care in advance to protect the health of their children . Do not forget that preventing influenza in children , along with preventing colds , will help avoid many of the complications that these diseases are fraught with.
Protect the person dearest to you, let his childhood pass without illness. A healthy lifestyle is the key to the harmonious development of your child. Prevention
1. There is an opportunity to get vaccinated (vaccinate a child)
— get vaccinated, but on the condition that, firstly, you are healthy and, secondly, to get vaccinated you won’t have to sit in a snotty crowd at the clinic.
The latter provision makes your chances of adequate vaccination illusory. 2. There are no drugs with proven preventive effectiveness. That is, no onion, no garlic, no pills you swallow or put into your child can protect against any respiratory virus in general, or the influenza virus in particular . Everything that you are dying for in pharmacies, all these supposedly antiviral drugs, supposedly stimulants of interferon formation, immune stimulants and terribly useful vitamins, everything that has disappeared from pharmacies by today, everything that the government has promised to fill pharmacies with in the coming days - all these are medicines with unproven effectiveness, drugs that satisfy the basic mental need “something needs to be done
.
3. The source of the virus is human and only human. The fewer people there are, the less chance you have of getting sick. Quarantine is wonderful! The ban on mass gatherings is great! Walking to the stop and not going to the supermarket one more time is wise! 4. Mask. A useful thing, but not in dry, warm and still air, but they are destroyed almost instantly in cool, humid and moving air. The optimal indoor air parameters are temperature about 20 °C, humidity 50–70%. Frequent and intensive cross-ventilation of the premises is mandatory. Any heating system dries out the air. It is the beginning of the heating season that becomes the beginning of the epidemic! Control humidity. Wash the floor. Turn on humidifiers. Urgently demand air humidification and ventilation of rooms in children's groups. 7. Condition of mucous membranes! Mucus constantly forms in the upper respiratory tract. Mucus ensures the functioning of the so-called. local immunity - protection of mucous membranes. If the mucus and mucous membranes dry out, the work of local immunity is disrupted, viruses, accordingly, easily overcome the protective barrier of weakened local immunity, and a person becomes ill upon contact with the virus with a much higher degree of probability. The main enemy of local immunity is dry air, as well as medications that can dry out mucous membranes (of the popular and well-known ones - diphenhydramine, suprastin, tavegil, trifed - the list is far from complete, to put it mildly). Moisturize the mucous membranes! Elementary: 1 teaspoon of regular table salt per 1 liter of boiled water. Pour it into any spray bottle (for example, from vasoconstrictor drops)
and spray it into your nose regularly
(the drier, the more people around, the more often, at least every 10 minutes)
.
For the same purpose, you can buy saline solution or ready-made saline solutions for injection into the nasal passages at the pharmacy - Saline, Aqua Maris, Humer, Marimer, Nosol, etc. The main thing is don’t regret it! Drip, spray, especially when
you
(from a dry room) to where there are a lot of people, especially if you are sitting in the corridor of the clinic.
ARVI in children: causes
In children, up to a certain age, due to the peculiarities of the development of the immune system, susceptibility to ARVI is higher, this is also influenced by frequent stay in children's groups with an unstable epidemiological situation, a high risk of hypothermia and poor hygiene.
When a child often “catch” ARVI, this is not always considered a sign of a weak immune system, but may mean that he is exposed to many viruses. But if acute respiratory viral infections lead to more serious problems, then this is a reason for a more in-depth examination and treatment and preventive measures.
Disease prevention
As a doctor with extensive practical experience at the Healer children's clinic in Makhachkala, I can say that hardening is an important means of prevention. It can and should be carried out from the very first days of the child’s birth. These are the same air baths, water procedures, as well as a balanced diet. I often notice at appointments that children who consume excessive amounts of sweets are more prone to sore throats than other peers. Because the sweet environment that is formed in the oral cavity is very favorable for the development of staphylococcal infections.
It is important to understand that the prevention of viral infections is not carried out with medications. Prevention for viral infections is hardening, nutrition and leading a healthy lifestyle. The virus can appear in the body in any case, and it depends on the body how it will perceive it, as one’s own or as someone else’s? Therefore, prevention is not carried out with medications.
How does ARVI spread?
Due to the fact that the main route of transmission of the virus is airborne, viruses are concentrated in the nose and throat and can spread through saliva and exhaled air, sneezing, coughing, and close contact. A rarer way is contact and household, through toys, household items, dishes. Children touch their noses, rub their eyes, put things in their mouths, touch each other during games, exchange toys, and the virus spreads easily, leading to ARVI.
Constant tactile contacts with parents, teachers, nannies, and other children “ensure” the transmission of ARVI by hand-to-mouth transmission. Viruses are quite tenacious. They remain active on objects from several hours to seven days.
No matter how familiar the diagnosis of ARVI may seem, self-medication is unacceptable. The child must be examined by a doctor. It is impossible to leave a child without medical help. Only a doctor can assess the condition and select treatment tactics for ARVI. A “harmless” ARVI can result in breathing problems, severe coughing, vomiting, high fever, and convulsions. ARVIs are dangerous due to complications: pneumonia, otitis media, sinusitis must be treated with antibiotics, which should be prescribed by a doctor.
Treatment of ARVI in Makhachkala
There is currently no specific or targeted treatment for viral diseases. The attending physician selects treatment individually for each patient, depending on the symptoms of the disease and its severity. Antiviral drugs must be used, including: influenza (nose drops), arbidol for older children, for younger children - viferon, geneferon suppositories, polyoxidonium - from 4 years old. Each infectious disease doctor selects a specific treatment regimen individually. In addition to medications, vitamin therapy is also prescribed. It is recommended to drink plenty of fluids, various teas with raspberries, lemon, etc.
If intoxication is high, then glucose-saline solutions are prescribed intravenously. That is, we initiate antibacterial therapy, taking into account laboratory data and the complications that are caused by these same viruses. Dynamic control is required. Based on the dynamics of observations, if necessary, radiography and a repeat general blood test are performed.
Recently, inhalations have become very popular among us. This is also very good for coughs. We must not forget about traditional medicine methods. Be sure to use the same mustard plasters, steam the baby’s feet before bed, and rinse the nose with soda, saline solutions, or Aqualor.
Prevention of ARVI in children
If possible, babies under 3 months should be protected from contact with ARVI patients. The child must receive all recommended vaccinations. Although there is no specific protection against SARS, some vaccines can help prevent complications, such as bacterial infections of the ears or lungs. The flu vaccine will not protect your child from other respiratory viruses.
To prevent ARVI, it is recommended:
- Avoid hypothermia and overheating.
- Avoid public places during the epidemic and off-season, when the risk of getting ARVI is higher.
- Hardening.
- Vaccination, including against influenza, meningococcal, pneumococcal, rotavirus and Haemophilus influenzae infections.
- Every day, especially after visiting public places and children's groups, toilet the nose with saline solution or cool boiled water.
- During the epidemic, use personal protective equipment - masks, barrier ointments, handkerchiefs.
- Hand washing is a reliable way to reduce the spread of colds. Wash your hands after coughing, sneezing; wash your hands after direct contact with a carrier of a respiratory infection; Wash your hands after wiping your baby's nose.
- When water and soap are not available, use wipes or hand gels.
- Teach your child to cover his nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing, to use disposable handkerchiefs, and to wash his hands after cleaning his nose.
- Avoid sharing toys; do not let your child lick other people's toys or cutlery.
Contact your pediatrician for more complete advice on the prevention and treatment of ARVI.
Therapy and prevention of ARVI in pediatrics
The most common infectious agents of ARVI are rhinovirus - 14.8% of cases, influenza viruses are detected in 9.4%, respiratory syncytial virus - in 9.1%, adenovirus - in 5%, parainfluenza - in 4.8%, coronavirus - in 2.2%, bocavirus - in 2%. In more than 37% of cases, it is not possible to accurately verify the pathogen. 7.4% of children with ARVI have a combined infection, with viral-viral and viral-bacterial associations noted.
Such a wide range of pathogens largely explains the high incidence of ARVI. Today these are the most common diseases - they account for almost 90% of all infectious pathologies in children.1-3 ARVI is, first of all, damage to the health of the child, as well as moral and material costs for the family and government losses. And all these investments can increase many times over, since viral infectious diseases of the respiratory tract are fraught with high risks of developing numerous complications.4-5 In addition, pediatricians must remember that respiratory viruses (like all others) have an immunosuppressive effect, leading to the development of 60% of those who have recovered from the so-called “post-viral asthenia syndrome”, which is accompanied by emotional disturbances, fatigue, decreased activity and even mental disorders.1
Respiratory viral infection in children is dangerous primarily due to its complications
All these aspects require doctors to take seriously the management of patients with ARVI and the timely prevention of this disease. In recent years, specific immunoprophylaxis of influenza (live and inactivated influenza vaccines) has been actively carried out in our country, protecting up to 80% of children and adults from this infection.6 Meanwhile, means of nonspecific prevention of influenza and ARVI in the pediatrician’s arsenal are clearly not enough, although their demand is high, as well as reliable treatments.
The choice of an effective and safe drug for the treatment of ARVI in children is still controversial, and established treatment regimens are increasingly in doubt. For example, interferon inducers traditionally used by domestic pediatricians in Europe and the USA are used only in the treatment of serious diseases, such as hepatitis C or cancer, that is, where direct active intervention in the most complex immunological processes of the body is actually required.
With the onset of the next “cold and flu” season, the pediatrician’s urgent need for a drug that could be safely used in very young children for the treatment of ARVI appears clearly. In addition to safety, important criteria for such a drug should be its effectiveness, rapid onset of action and stability of effect. At one time, the drug Oscillococcinum, which meets all these requirements, was developed by a French pharmaceutical company. And for more than 70 years it has been successfully used in dozens of countries around the world - France, Great Britain, Switzerland, USA, Russia, etc.7
Oscillococcinum alleviates the symptoms of ARVI by 2 times within 48 hours and treats ARVI in 4-5 days
The administration of Oscillococcinum leads to rapid and effective relief of ARVI symptoms within 48 hours.8 The action of Oscillococcinum is associated with a mild but clearly pronounced effect on the immune system. Oscillococcinum affects the immune system as a whole, enhancing both humoral and cellular immunity. In this case, the strengthening of the immune response occurs evenly, without shifting the focus of activity towards any of the links of immunity.9 An important mechanism of action of Oscillococcinum is the stimulation of the phagocytic activity of macrophages and activation of the production of induced α-IFN and γ-IFN, which helps prevent the penetration of viruses into cells .8
Oscillococcinum effectively treats ARVI in 4-5 days and reduces the incidence of secondary complications by 50%
All this makes the drug highly effective - when treated with Oscillococcinum, ARVI is 2 times easier and recovery occurs within 4-5 days.10 At the same time, the drug reduces the incidence of secondary complications by 50%.11
Oscillococcinum has a minimum of contraindications and side effects: it does not cause drowsiness, addiction and does not interact with other medications. Unlike most remedies for influenza and ARVI, Oscillococcinum is suitable for the whole family. Oscillococcinum has no age restrictions and can be used in children from birth, while its use allows minimizing the use of antibacterial, antihistamine, antipyretic and symptomatic drugs.12
The inclusion of Oscillococcinum in the treatment regimen for ARVI can reduce the risk of complications by 50%
And if we take into account that Oscillococcinum can be used not only for therapeutic purposes, but also for prophylactic purposes (at the rate of 1 dose per week during the spread of ARVI or after contact with a patient),13-14 it becomes clear why pediatricians chose Oscillococcinum as a reliable medicinal means for the treatment and prevention of acute respiratory viral infections in children.
Oscillococcinum has a solid evidence base of effectiveness and safety, based on the principles and standards of evidence-based medicine (Evidence-Based Medicine).
Thus, the activity of Oscillococcinum against influenza pathogens and other respiratory viruses has been proven by a number of epidemiological randomized placebo-controlled observations [Selkova E.P., Semenenko T.A. et al., 2006; Vickers AJ, Smith C., 2006; Marrari LA, Terzan L., 2012]. A number of studies conducted recently in different countries (for example, in Italy 2002-2011) have increased the degree of recognition (level of evidence) of Oscillococcinum to category VI - “with proven overall effectiveness.” They were also noted by independent experts of the Cochrane Community, the most authoritative among supporters of evidence-based medicine.
The Cochrane meta-analysis (7 RCTs in one of the most reliable designs - blind, placebo-controlled, randomized: 3 - on prevention, 2265 participants; 4 - on treatment, 1194 participants) noted the clinical effect of Oscillococcinum in the treatment of influenza and ARVI and a high level of safety . None of the studies reported any adverse effects, including delayed ones.
The conclusions of this review confirm the interest in the drug in the search for an optimal solution for the treatment of ARVI and influenza.
In conclusion, we emphasize: the problem of ARVI in children remains relevant not only because of the high incidence rate, but, according to many experts, due to the need to revise and optimize treatment tactics. Unjustified prescription of immunomodulatory, antibacterial and symptomatic drugs should be avoided and new approaches should be sought. The use of Oscillococcinum in children of a younger age group for the prevention and treatment of acute respiratory viral infections should be considered effective and justified.
1 Samsygina G.A., Kazyukova T.V., Dudina T.A. et al. New technologies in the prevention of ARI and influenza in young children.2 Uchaikin V.F. Solved and unresolved problems of infectious pathology in children. Children's infections. No. 4, 2003, p. 3-7.3 WHO Global Influenza Preparedness Plan. WHO/CDS/CSR/GIP/2005.5.4 Nicholson K, Wood JM, Zambon M. Influenza. Lancet. 2003, 362, p. 1733-1745. 5 Korovina N.A., Zaplatnikov A.L. Acute respiratory viral infections in the outpatient practice of a pediatrician. M.: Medpraktika, 2004.6 Tatochenko V.K. Prevention and treatment of acute respiratory infections. Vaccination. 11, 2007, p. 6—7.7 https://oscillo.ru/oscillococcinum/.8 Selkova E.P., Volchetsky A.L., Lapitskaya A.S., Radtsig E.Yu., Ermilova N.V. The influence of Oscillococcinum on interferon formation in frequently ill children. Consilium Medicum, No. 4, 2009, p. 42-47.9 Kovalenko L.P. Experimental study of the allergenic properties and immunotoxicity of the drug Oscillococcinum. Toxicological Bulletin. No. 1, 2015, p. 37-41.10 Geppe N.A., Krylova N.A., Eliseeva T.I. Possibilities of early initiation of treatment of ARVI in children. Russian Bulletin of Perinatology and Pediatrics. No. 63:(5), 2021, p. 103-197.11 Skripchenko N.V. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the drug Oscillococcinum for the treatment of acute respiratory infections in children caused by various viruses. Questions of practical pediatrics. No. 14(1), 2021, p. 90—97.12 Samsygina G.A., Kazyukova T.V., Dudina T.A. et al. New technologies in the prevention of acute respiratory infections and influenza in young children. Pediatrics. Volume 87, No. 5, 2008, p. 95-100.13 Gianfranco Maria Beghi and Antonio Maria Morselli. Does homeopathic medicine have a preventive effect on respiratory tract infections? A real life observational study. Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine, 2016.14 Selkova E.P., Semenenko T.A., Gorbachev I.A. The use of Oscillococcinum for the prevention and treatment of influenza and ARVI. Infectious diseases. T 3, No. 4, 2005, p. 74-78.
Prevention is an important component for acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections.
22.Jan.2020
According to Rospotrebnadzor statistics for the city of Langepas, from the beginning of January 2021 to today, 540 cases of acute respiratory infections have been recorded, in most cases children from 0 to 14 years old are sick. No incidence of influenza has been recorded.
Acute respiratory diseases (ARI) is the most general definition, including any infectious diseases of the respiratory tract accompanied by “cold” symptoms.
Acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) is a slightly more specific diagnosis. Quite a few - after all, there are more than three hundred viruses that can cause acute respiratory infection (influenza virus, rhinovirus, coronaviruses, respiratory syncytial virus and others).
That same banal cold that we all encounter more than once a year is a viral infection.
The main symptoms of ARVI include headache, weakness, fever up to 38 degrees, chills, runny nose, cough, pain in muscles and joints.
Both acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections can occur at any time of the year, because microbes are constantly in the environment.
Specialists at the Langepass City Hospital remind you that when the first signs of illness appear, you should immediately consult a doctor and not self-medicate!
To avoid getting sick, here are the top 16 proven methods for boosting your immunity.
Top 16 proven methods to boost immunity
1. Eat a high-quality and balanced diet. Add garlic, lemon, honey, berry fruit drinks (for example, cranberry and lingonberry), herbal infusions, rose hips, and aloe to your diet. Take a multivitamin. 2. Do inhalations with essential oils. The recipe is as follows: in a small saucepan, bring half a liter of water to a boil. Then add essential oil to the water (we recommend eucalyptus or mint). Breathe the fragrant steam under a towel for up to 15 minutes. For inhalation, you can also use decoctions of sage, oregano, lavender or other herbs. It is important to remember about a person’s allergic reactions, so consultation with a doctor is necessary. 3. Do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. Don't forget about morning exercises. 4. Try to get enough sleep. 5. Walk outdoors more often. 6. Regularly ventilate and do wet cleaning in the room in which you live or work. 7. Avoid hypothermia. 8. Try not to contact sick people. 9. Clean and wash your outerwear and all things you use in public places more often. 10. If you catch a runny nose, use disposable tissues. 11. During epidemics, we recommend wearing a sterile medical mask. Try to change it every two hours. 12. Remember the rules of hygiene: wash your hands thoroughly with soap and rinse your nasal cavity with saline solution after going outside or using public transport. 13. Remember that if one of your loved ones has already become infected with ARVI, most likely, the disease along the chain will take over everyone living in the house. Ventilate the room of a sick person regularly. Modern air purifiers can renew the air in a draft-free room. They promptly supply fresh air to the room without street cold, as well as dirt, dust and allergens due to several stages of filtration. 14. Drink more fluids. 15. If you are sick, stay home and limit contact with other people so as not to infect them. After consulting with your doctor, strictly adhere to bed rest; violation of this golden rule is fraught with complications. 16. Self-medication is unacceptable! It is the doctor who must make a diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment appropriate to the patient’s condition and age. And it is the doctor who should prescribe you the necessary antiviral drug.
Your health is in your hands!
BU "Langepass City Hospital" public relations specialist Leysan Flyurovna Latypova
Assistant epidemiologist of the Langepass City Hospital Sultanova Svetlana Pavlovna
