How to protect yourself from ARVI?

It is important to carry out hand washing procedures more often and during the epidemic to avoid places with large crowds of people.

To maintain overall immunity, it is recommended to eat a regular and varied diet, not skip meals, get enough sleep and exercise.

When a person encounters a variety of ARVI viruses, his immunity begins to form a specific defense against them. This process provides the body with better protection against reinfection by the same or similar viruses in the future.

In the case of influenza, vaccination against the current season’s circulating strains helps build immunity to the virus, which helps prevent or mitigate the disease.

The number of acute respiratory viral infections considered normal for children is no more than 6 cases per year, while for adults this number usually ranges from 2-3 cases. An increased incidence of illness may indicate the presence of a chronic infection in the body.

For example, if a person often experiences relapses of otitis media, sinusitis or pharyngitis, this may indicate similar problems.

The main task in this case is to identify and treat the main causes of regular diseases. An increase in the incidence of illness may also be associated with changes in environmental conditions, for example, in the case of children, visiting child care facilities, and for adults, a change in place of work or place of residence, especially if this involves contact with children.

Myth: ARVI is not a serious disease

Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) are the most common infectious diseases. Nine out of ten adults get it seasonally, while children get it up to twice each season, amounting to about 8 cases per year.

These viral colds are easily transmitted from person to person due to their high contagiousness. The disease usually goes away on its own, but sometimes complications can occur.

With acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI), the symptoms usually go away on their own without special treatment. However, impaired immunity can trigger the activation of bacteria on the mucous membrane, which leads to the development of secondary complications. These complications may include diseases such as ear infections, sinusitis, pneumonia and bronchitis.

When viral particles begin to exert their effects, specific complications arise. These may be symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, such as meningism, acute respiratory failure, and also, although rarely, infectious toxic shock.

Most cases of acute respiratory viral infection end without any serious complications, but in adults suffering from chronic diseases, bacterial complications often occur. It is important to monitor your health and not let a common cold lead to the development of more serious problems!

Myth: It is necessary to lower the temperature

When body temperature rises, the body begins to produce interferons – special proteins necessary to fight viruses and bacteria. This process triggers the mechanism of phagocytosis, in which phagocyte cells actively absorb and destroy infectious agents, helping the body cope with the disease.

Fever is often accompanied by headache, aching bones, weakness, chills, loss of appetite and intense sweating.
Doctors advise refraining from taking antipyretic drugs if the temperature does not exceed 38-38.5 °C.

When the temperature rises, the body begins to produce interferons – these are proteins that are necessary to fight viruses and bacteria. This process activates the mechanism of phagocytosis – the absorption and destruction of infectious agents by phagocyte cells, which helps the body cope with the infection.

The most effective approach is to adhere to strict bed rest, giving the body maximum opportunity to rest and recover. If a viral disease is carried actively, without proper rest, this can lead to undesirable consequences and complications in the future. In addition, an ill person may pose a risk of infection to others.