Acute respiratory infections (ARI) - this is the most extensive group of transmitted infections airborne droplets and cause respiratory manifestations of varying degrees of severity from mild cold to bronchitis or pneumonia. SARS at least a few times in the life of every man is sick.
SARS belongs to a particular group of respiratory infections caused by viruses only, as there is still quite a large group of ARI (Acute respiratory diseases) that may be caused by microbial agents - pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microbes.
general information
SARS widespread among children and adults, on average, children suffer from them by three to 10-12 times per year, grown from one to four times a year.
SARS have high relevance in view of the fact that they have no specific treatment and prevention of specific methods (there is no vaccine against all known SARS).
In addition, most of the complexity of the exact definition of a specific virus that caused the disease in each patient, in connection with which originated collective term - it involves the similarity of symptoms and treatment guidelines given group diseases.
Causes
SARS is caused by viruses, which today are about 250 species. All of them belong to certain groups: rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, Coronaviruses, enteroviruses, parvavirusy, paramyxoviruses, influenza viruses, parainfluenza viruses, respiratory sentitsialnye viruses, Coxsackie viruses and other respiratory viruses.
Infection occurs by airborne droplets. The particles of the virus are transmitted by coughing, speaking, sneezing.
For children it is also relevant contact way of infection - by kissing adults, sharing glasses and dishes, and dirty hands.
Contributing to the spread of viruses are changing season due to:
- long-term preservation of viruses in the air due to the relatively warm and wet weather,
- Temperature fluctuations and hypothermia,
- people crowding indoors
- small stay in the fresh air and the occasional airing,
- weakening of the body's lack of vitamins and monotonous food,
- exacerbation of chronic diseases.
manifestations of SARS
SARS usually occur phasically, the incubation period from infection to the manifestation of symptoms varied, ranging from a few hours to 3-7 days. During all the clinical manifestations of acute respiratory viral infections have similar symptoms to varying degrees of severity:
- nasal congestion, runny nose, nasal discharge from scarce to abundant and watery, sneezing, and itchy nose,
- sore throat, discomfort, pain when swallowing, redness in the throat,
- cough (dry or wet),
- moderate fever (37.5-38 degrees) to severe (38.5-40 degrees)
- malaise, refusal to eat, headaches, drowsiness,
- eye redness, burning, tearing,
- indigestion with loose stools,
- rarely lymph node reaction in the jaw and neck, in the form of an increase with a weak painful.
Manifestations depend on the specific form of the virus, and can range from a slight runny nose and coughing to severe febrile and toxic manifestations. On average, symptoms last from 2-3 up to seven days or more, febrile period lasts up to 2-3 days.
The main symptom of SARS is the high infectiousness to others, the timing of which depends on the type of virus. On average, an infectious patient is the last days of the incubation period and the first 2-3 days of clinical manifestations, gradually reduced the number of viruses and the patient becomes dangerous in the proliferation infection.
complications
Usually viral infections are treated very superficially, without going to the doctor, and engaged in self-medicate. This can lead to the formation of complications such as:
- sharp sinusitis (Inflammation of the sinuses with the accession of purulent infection)
- lowering down the infection of the respiratory tract with the formation bronchitis and pneumonia,
- spread infections in the auditory tube to form otitis,
- joining a secondary bacterial infection (e.g., development sore throat),
- exacerbation of chronic infection foci in the broncho-pulmonary system and other organs.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis in the acute stage is straightforward - display typical, sometimes to avoid smear performed purulent infection of the nose and throat with bak.posevom. Additional diagnostic techniques in uncomplicated SARS not available.
If necessary, X-ray diagnostic complications is used sinuses or chest.
SARS treatment
The treatment takes internists, pediatricians and infectious disease specialists. First of all, the basis of this therapy:
- isolation from other children and adults,
- bed rest,
- excessive fluid intake, the appetite for food (vegetable-dairy table)
- ventilation and humidification.
Specific antiviral drugs for SARS is not developed, only symptomatic drugs are used for these infections. These include:
- antipyretics for fever above 38.5-39 degrees and feel unwell, (lower temperatures usually do not knock)
- drugs for the common cold - Otrivin, Sanorin, pinosol etc.
- antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agents for the throat (Tantum verde, Geksoral, kameton etc.)
- antitussives (sinekod, Codelac), expectorants (Tussin syrup plantain), vasospasm sputum means (Ascoril, ACC).
- Vitamin C in high doses, multivitamins.
- you can apply the methods of folk therapy - decoctions of herbs, tea with honey, raspberries, milk with honey.
When SARS is contraindicated:
- antibiotics,
- immune drugs.
The prognosis for the full and timely treatment favorable condition lasts for one to two weeks.
