Prevention of influenza, SARS and new coronavirus infection

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE INFLUENZA VIRUS?

Influenza is an acute respiratory infection transmitted by airborne droplets caused by various types of influenza virus.

Morbidity structure 

Among those who fell ill with influenza, mainly children aged 7-14 and adults. Basically, these are influenza viruses type B and influenza viruses subtype A (H1N1) 09).

Pathogen

The causative agent of the infection is influenza virus types A, B and C (Influenza virus A, B, C).

Influenza is most commonly caused by type A viruses (the most variable) and type B viruses in humans.

Every year, new variants of influenza viruses appear (the virus mutates).

At room temperature (+22°C) in the room, the influenza virus persists for several hours, on towels, handkerchiefs and other tissues - up to 11 days.

Source of infection

A person with the flu.

Transmission routes

The airborne route of transmission is the main one. The role of airborne and household routes has been proven, but they do not play a significant role in the transmission of influenza.

At-risk groups

• people aged 65 and over;
• children under 2 years of age;
• pregnant women and women within two weeks after childbirth;
• patients with chronic diseases (chronic respiratory diseases, including bronchial asthma, chronic heart, kidney, liver or neurological diseases, diabetes mellitus, hemoglobinopathies, immunosuppression, obesity).

Incubation period

From the moment of infection to the onset of symptoms of the disease, it takes from several hours to 4 days, on average 2-3 days.

infectious period

A person with influenza, like other acute respiratory viral infections, is most contagious in the first 5-7 days of illness. The most active isolation of the virus in the first 2-3 days. Young children can be sources of infection for up to 10 days.

Clinic

The disease begins with a sharp rise in temperature, body aches, headache, loss of strength. Further, cough, sore throat and other symptoms of acute respiratory infections join.

The course of influenza can be both mild and extremely severe (especially for people at risk). Severe infections can lead to death.

What is dangerous disease

In most cases, the flu ends in recovery, but sometimes pneumonia, bronchitis, otitis media, and sinusitis can join. Complications from the cardiovascular, nervous (encephalitis, meningitis, etc.) systems may also occur.

Diagnostics

Smears from the nasal cavity and oropharynx.

Treatment

In order to avoid complications, it is necessary to seek medical help in a timely manner.

Those who are ill with severe forms of influenza, those with a complicated course, as well as newborns, are subject to hospitalization.

Prevention

The risk of infection, as well as the spread of the influenza virus, can be prevented by vaccination, which is carried out in the pre-epidemic period (from September to November). Vaccination is carried out once a year.

The annual composition of the vaccine varies.

Vaccination schedule

Influenza vaccination is recommended for all populations, especially:

• children from 6 months;
• students in grades 1-11; students in professional educational organizations;
• adults working in certain professions and positions (employees of medical and educational organizations, transport, utilities);
• pregnant women (regardless of the trimester of pregnancy);
• adults over 60;
• persons subject to conscription for military service, military personnel;
• persons with chronic diseases of the lungs, organs of the cardiovascular system, with metabolic disorders and obesity.

If a child under the age of 9 is being vaccinated against influenza for the first time, it is given twice with an interval of 4 weeks.

Contraindications to vaccination

Influenza vaccination is not carried out in acute febrile conditions (only after normalization of temperature), during exacerbations of chronic diseases, for those who have an increased sensitivity of the body to egg white (if it is part of the vaccine). Also, vaccination is not given to those who have had a severe reaction to a previous flu vaccine.

Non-specific prophylaxis 

Non-specific prevention of influenza consists in avoiding contact with people with influenza, as well as in observing the rules of personal hygiene (washing hands, observing the rules of a healthy lifestyle, drinking plenty of water, ventilating the premises, wet cleaning, avoiding hugs, kisses when meeting, touching the face with dirty hands). If symptoms of SARS appear, stay at home and seek medical help. In order not to infect others, it is recommended to use a medical mask.

FLU VACCINE. WHY EACH YEAR IS NEW?

Why is the measles vaccine not changed for years, and the flu vaccine every year? About this in our article.

The fact is that the influenza virus is constantly mutating, so it is impossible to get long-term immunity by vaccinating once.

Scientists all over the world searched for a solution and were able to find it - large-scale, time-consuming, but very effective. 

World Health Organization (WHO) countries have established the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). To date, GISRS has institutions in 123 States. 

In each of these 123 countries, there are one or more officially recognized WHO National Influenza Centers that collect information on influenza in their country or part of it. 

Influenza surveillance in Russia is carried out within the framework of the Federal Center for Influenza and ARI and the WHO National Influenza Center, operating on the basis of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Influenza Research Institute named after N.N. A.A. Smorodintsev" of the Ministry of Health of Russia.

National centers collect virus samples in their country and conduct a preliminary analysis. Research methods are standardized throughout the WHO network, so that data around the world are uniform and comparable.

From National Centers, representative clinical specimens and isolated viruses are sent to WHO Collaborating Centers and Essential Regulatory Laboratories for advanced antigen and genetic analysis. 

WHO Collaborating Center in Russia - FBSI "State Scientific Center for Virology and Biotechnology" VECTOR "of Rospotrebnadzor.

Based on the data collected, an analysis of the situation over the past season is carried out and it is determined which virus was most common or was presented slightly at the beginning of the season, and by the end was the most common. With the help of antigenic and genetic analysis, as well as mathematical modeling, the situation is predicted: which strains of influenza will circulate in the expected season. They are taken as a basis by manufacturers of influenza vaccines. 

Thus, every year our health is guarded by an up-to-date flu vaccine that can protect us in the coming epidemiological season.

FLU. SELF TREATMENT

What do most people who self-medicate rely on?

Most of the sick, without going to the doctor, take medicines based on their own experience, the advice of friends, trusting advertising, a pharmacist, or they are treated with those drugs that are in the first-aid kit “for the stomach”, “for the cold”, “for the nerves”. 

Are you sure you just have a cold?

Only a doctor can make a differential diagnosis of influenza, other viral infections and non-communicable diseases, determine the severity of the course of the disease and the necessary amount of medical care. There are many diseases, the clinical picture of which is similar, but the treatment required is completely different. 

Self-medication is not always effective, and always dangerous

When prescribing treatment for yourself, you do not take into account a number of nuances. The dosage of the drug is selected individually, the doctor needs to know the patient's age, weight, concomitant diseases. It is necessary to take the medicine in the correct dosage at regular intervals in order to avoid overdose and side effects. Before starting treatment, blood, urine, or other tests are often needed. 

Self-administration of medications, dietary supplements or herbs can lead to an allergic reaction up to Quincke's edema or anaphylactic shock. 

Example: paracetamol poisoning

This seemingly harmless medicine is in everyone's home first aid kit. Helps with pain, reduces fever. What's wrong? After drinking a bag of “for a cold”, adding a paracetamol tablet for fever, did you calculate the total dosage of the drug you took? In most cases, cold packs already contain a full dosage of paracetamol. 

Paracetamol in its pure form or as part of cold preparations is toxic if the dosage is exceeded. Increasing the dosage or taking this drug for a long time can lead to liver toxicity.

At an unreduced temperature, only a doctor will give recommendations on which drugs, in what dosage to take and with which drugs to alternate. 

Read the label and instructions for the drug carefully. 

Flu is not treated with antibiotics

At the first symptoms of influenza and any viral infection, antibiotics are not prescribed. Antibiotics are antibacterial drugs (effective against bacteria), and the causative agent of influenza is a virus. Antibiotics do not act on viruses, and are prescribed only for bacterial complications, for example, with the development of pneumonia. Unreasonable use of antibiotics can lead to the development of resistance of microorganisms to the drug. After all, antibiotics differ in their antimicrobial action, and a drug effective against one bacterial infection may be useless against another.

Rubbing (rubbing) is dangerous for children

Does the child have a fever, the temperature does not fall or decreases very slowly? Many parents are sure that you can rub it with vodka, cologne, vinegar. This is not possible, this method of lowering the temperature can lead to a chemical burn of the thin and delicate skin of the child. 

Another disadvantage of self-treatment is a belated diagnosis.

Treat yourself, and see a doctor only if it becomes really bad -

bad practice. With this approach, there is a high probability of more severe, long-term treatment and recovery from illness. And the flu is dangerous precisely for its complications.

Influenza is a serious infection, the danger of which is complications

Flu complications can develop even in a healthy person, but are especially likely in people at risk. The addition of a secondary infection, such as the development of pneumonia, otitis, sinusitis, requires the immediate appointment of additional treatment and medical supervision, which cannot be done independently. 

Flu can be treated at home

Influenza, like other acute respiratory viral infections, in most cases is treated at home. Particular attention is paid to infants, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases, cancer patients, the elderly. They are more susceptible to complications and require hospitalization. If you are at risk, do not start treatment without the consent of your doctor.

If you feel the symptoms of a viral infection, the temperature is difficult to cope with, consult a doctor, do not experiment with self-treatment.
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