Influenza type A: what are the symptoms and
treatment for children and adults? The doctor explains
In
Ukraine, from November 2022 to January 2023, the flu virus mainly circulated.
In particular, influenza type A is the most common.
What
are the symptoms of flu, how does it differ from other viruses? What is the
treatment for influenza 2023 and what methods should not be used to
"fight" the virus?
"Ukrainian
Pravda. Life" talked about this topic with family doctor and pediatrician
Kostyantyn Rohach.
Materials
from the Mayo Clinic and Healthline also helped us, and the text was checked by
the family doctor of the "Dobrobut" medical network, Hanna Serova.
|
Importantly! This material is
based on the latest and current scientific research, is of an informational
and reference nature only and cannot be the basis for establishing a medical
diagnosis. To establish a diagnosis, be sure to consult a doctor! |
What are the types of flu?
Influenza
is caused by viruses belonging to the family Orthomyxoviruses
(Orthomyxoviridae), writes the CDC.
There
are two main types of human influenza viruses: A and B, which cause seasonal
epidemics every year.
Influenza
A is the most common and most dangerous type that affects humans, animals and
birds. Influenza B, which affects humans and seals, is less often recorded.
Influenza
type C is very rare and affects humans and pigs, and type D affects pigs and
cattle.
Influenza
A subtypes can be divided into different genetic "classes" and
"subclasses" - however, the symptoms and treatment are the same.
"If
we talk about the clinical picture, there are almost no differences. In
principle, the protocols do not single out A or B, because there are a lot of
strains and substrains," says Kostyantyn Rogach.
Influenza
viruses mutate, so it is important to get vaccinated every year. The A strain
is the most common type of influenza and is more widely described than the B
strain.
"Influenza
A is the most described, the most common, and we have the most information
about it.
Type
B is less common and, let's say, it is not as severe in its course as influenza
A. But I remind you, there is no division in clinical guidelines," says
the doctor.
Symptoms of influenza A
The
symptoms of influenza A resemble the symptoms of other SARS, but they appear
suddenly and the disease is more severe.
The main symptoms of flu are:
- increase in body temperature up to 38°C or more;
- headache;
- pain in muscles and joints;
- dry cough;
- fever;
- muscle pain;
- chills and sweating;
- shortness of breath, feeling of lack of air;
- fatigue and weakness;
- less common runny nose or nasal congestion;
- eye pain, redness;
- less often vomiting and diarrhea.
- A peculiarity of the flu is the sudden onset of symptoms.
Usually,
the first symptoms of the flu are as follows: a high temperature, which can
"jump" up to 39 degrees almost immediately, and a dry cough.
Also,
from the very beginning, patients complain of severe weakness, muscle pain, and
body aches.
A
runny nose may appear on the 2-3rd day, and a sore throat - on the 3-4th day
after the onset of the disease.
"Influenza
can cause fever, runny nose, headache, cough, like any viral infection - we are
not afraid of it, but of complications. Type A influenza has more
complications," says the family doctor.
Most
often, the flu causes complications for the nervous system and hearing.
Patients experience neuritis of the auditory nerve, influenza pneumonia,
myalgia, myositis - muscle inflammation and severe muscle pain syndrome.
"In
children, this is often manifested by pain in their legs, they sometimes cannot
even stand on their feet - this scares parents very much. It is very important
to test for the flu so that we can treat it and prevent complications,"
says Kostyantyn Rogach.
If
not treated in time, flu can cause ear infection, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting,
dizziness, stomach pain, chest pain, asthma attack, pneumonia, bronchitis,
heart problems and more.
In some cases, the flu can be fatal.
People
at high risk of complications from flu infection should definitely seek medical
help, Healthline emphasizes.
In the zone of increased risk are:
- children up to 5 years old;
- pregnant women;
- people over the age of 65;
- patients with a weakened immune system or a number of chronic diseases (for example, patients with AIDS, hepatitis B and C).
Risk
factors are lung diseases (bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, cystic fibrosis); heart defects or chronic diseases of the
cardiovascular system; kidney diseases; endocrine (such as diabetes) and other
diseases, says the family doctor.
❗️
Contact your doctor immediately if you have the following complaints:
- Dangerous flu symptoms in adults:
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath;
- chest pain;
- constant dizziness;
- convulsions;
- worsening of existing diseases;
- severe muscle weakness or pain.
- Dangerous flu symptoms in a child:
difficulty breathing;
- paleness, gray or blue color of the skin, lips or fingers;
- chest pain;
- dehydration;
- lack of tears;
- decrease or disappearance of urination;
- fever that does not stop after antipyretic drugs;
- severe muscle pain;
- convulsions;
- exacerbation of chronic diseases.
How to treat the flu and which antivirals are effective?
If
you have flu symptoms, be sure to see your doctor. Taking antiviral drugs can
shorten the duration of the illness and help prevent more serious problems.
According
to the doctor, there is no difference in the treatment of influenza A or B.
✅
Oseltamivir is the only antiviral drug in the world that is currently effective
for the treatment of influenza virus A and B. This active substance works most
effectively in the first three days after the disease.
This
drug is available only with a prescription, so be sure to consult a doctor.
"If
treatment is started within the first three days, a person can feel improvement
literally in a day or a half. The contagiousness of such a person against the background
of treatment also decreases quickly, and literally in 2-3 days a person can no
longer be contagious.
This
is critical for the treatment of people with so-called risk factors, because
they have a greater threat of complications from the flu," says Kostyantyn
Rogach.
You
should not take "fuflomycin" - unproven antiviral drugs, because they
will not help treat the flu in any way.
"Unproven
antiviral drugs, of which there are many on the market in Ukraine, should not
be used at all. All antiviral drugs, except oseltamivir, will not be effective
in treatment," explains the family doctor.
✅
For adults, the temperature is brought down after the mark of 38.5, and for
children - if it reaches 38 degrees.
"Elevated
body temperature is the body's protective reaction to infection, so it is
better to give the body an opportunity to fight.
If
the temperature is really high and it is very difficult to tolerate, you can
take antipyretics," explains Kostyantyn Rogach.
✅
Ibuprofen or paracetamol are the safest means to reduce body temperature.
"It
is better to do it through the mouth, and not through injections, if there is
such an opportunity. Very often in our country, for some reason, they like to
take antipyretic drugs rectally, but it is just as effective orally," says
the family doctor.
❗️
Antitussives or expectorants can be used as prescribed by doctors. However, the
family doctor categorically does not advise giving such medications to children
under 6 years of age.
"Children
have not yet developed a cough reflex. Expectorants increase the amount of
sputum in the lungs, but this sputum has to go somewhere, it cannot just stay
in the lungs.
An
adult can cough, but a small child cannot. Often this leads to complications,
when the cough, on the contrary, worsens," says the doctor.
✅ It
is very important to drink a lot of liquid: water, tea, soda and other drinks.
The
Ministry of Health reminds that the approximate daily rate of fluid for an
adult is 4% of the total body weight. The doctor also advises adults weighing
70-80 kilograms to drink about 3 liters of liquid per day.
What
should NOT be used to treat the flu?
❌
Antibiotics against the virus or for prevention
In
no case should you prescribe an antibacterial drug for the prevention or
treatment of the virus.
You
can drink antibiotics only on the doctor's prescription, if a bacterial
infection joins.
"If
you take an antibiotic for prevention, the bacterial flora becomes insensitive
to the group represented by this antibiotic.
Antibiotic
resistance is now a very serious problem in the world, so antibiotics
absolutely cannot be taken without a doctor's prescription," Kostyantyn
Rogach adds.
❌
Vitamins
After
getting the flu, people often start drinking vitamins, particularly vitamin C
and D, but they are ineffective in treating viruses. In addition, vitamins
without need and in excessive doses can be extremely harmful.
"Vitamins
have grown in popularity during COVID-19. People have been eating them by the
handful with the hope that it will somehow affect the virus or 'boost immunity.'
But
this does not make sense, because there are many studies that do not prove the
effectiveness of vitamin C, D, and zinc," explains the family doctor.
At
the same time, if a person drank vitamins as prescribed by a doctor before the
onset of the disease, it is worth continuing to take the drugs.
❌ Folk
methods
You
should not breathe over potatoes, soak your feet in boiling water, put cans or
mustard seeds and use other folk methods.
Mustards,
especially for the treatment of children, are unpleasant, ineffective and even
dangerous, the doctor explains.
"When
you have a fever, mustard will definitely not improve your health. Similarly,
people like to steam their feet and their children, but it is not advisable to
do it: when the general temperature is elevated, hot water only
"overheats" the body, - says Kostyantyn Rogach.
❌
Complex drops
During
a runny nose, in addition to the usual saline solution or nasal spray, people
often use antibacterial, vasoconstricting drops in the nose at their own
discretion.
"In
childhood, this can lead to complications in case of overdose. Also,
vasoconstrictor drugs cannot be used for more than three days in a row, because
long-term use can lead to addiction," says Kostyantyn Rogach.
The
worst thing is when patients use "complex drops" - they collect 4-5
different types at the pharmacy and mix them. This should not be done without a
doctor's appointment, the family doctor emphasizes.
Prevention: when should you get vaccinated against the flu?
Contrary
to popular myth, eating garlic, onion, or lemon does not help prevent the flu.
The most effective method of preventing influenza is vaccination.
There
is also post-contact prophylaxis for a healthy person who has been in close
contact with a person with the flu. Prophylactic drugs are prescribed to people
from the risk group who may have complications.
"Prophylactic
treatment may differ slightly according to the scheme, for this it is also worth
contacting doctors," says Kostyantyn Rogach.
So, when should you get the flu shot?
According
to the doctor, it is mandatory to get vaccinated against the flu every year.
Usually
in the late spring, summer and early fall there is very little flu. The
episeason begins in the winter and lasts until about March.
The
optimal time for immunization is October-November, but you can get vaccinated
not only before the epidemic season, but also during it.
Every
year, you need to follow the reports of the Ministry of Health - what vaccines
are available. The vaccine should be this year's, and as a rule, drugs appear
at the beginning of autumn.
Children
can be vaccinated from the age of 6 months. Some drugs can be used to vaccinate
children from six months of age, and some - from 3 years of age.
Immunity
after vaccination is formed within 2-3 weeks. Even a vaccinated person can get
sick, but thanks to the vaccine, the course will be easier, and the risk of
complications, hospitalization and death will decrease.
"If
a person has already contracted the flu, you can wait a week after the
condition improves, make sure that you have recovered, and apply for
vaccination.
Last
year we had quadrivalent vaccines against the 4 strains that circulate most in
our hemisphere. If one strain has caused a disease, another can re-infect a
person in a short time. Therefore, it makes sense to get vaccinated about a
week after recovery," Kostyantyn Rogach emphasizes.
It
will be recalled that earlier the Ministry of Health explained that it is
possible to get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19 on the same day, but
in different hands.
