The most common complaints with which people go to doctors are runny nose, cough and fever. In this case, the doctor most often makes one of two diagnoses - acute respiratory viral infection or acute respiratory infection. However, despite the fact that these abbreviations are perceived by many as synonyms, there are slight differences between them.
With the onset of the autumn-winter season, from year to year, the circulation of non-influenza respiratory viruses (adenoviruses, respiratory syncytial viruses, parainfluenza viruses) begins in the space around us.
Sporadic detection of influenza A and B viruses is also periodically observed. Many of these diseases are called colds.
But in fact, there is no such disease as a cold in official medicine, but only acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections.
• What are acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections
• How to distinguish between acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections
• The difference in symptoms
• Modern approaches to treatment in adults
• Drugs for etiotropic therapy
• Drugs for antiviral therapy
What are acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections?
Acute respiratory diseases (ARI) is a general definition that includes any infectious disease that manifests itself as symptoms of a cold.
Acute respiratory infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa (parasites). The doctor usually makes such a diagnosis when there is no exact information about the causative agent of the infection, although it already makes itself felt with unpleasant symptoms.
The causative agent of infection can only be identified by conducting specific laboratory tests.
Modern medicine also uses a new complex term to refer to colds - ARI: acute respiratory infections .
According to one version, ARI refers to the outdated names of a group of diseases with clinical signs of the well-known cold; today, ARI is increasingly used instead.
Acute respiratory infections can manifest themselves in the form of rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, nasopharyngitis.
ARVI is also an acute respiratory viral infection , but resulting from damage to the epithelium of the respiratory tract only by viruses.
These diseases are characterized by a sharper increase in temperature and a more rapid development of symptoms: runny nose, cough, sore throat, lacrimation and intoxication.
Sometimes acute respiratory viral infections can be caused by the Coxsackie and ECHO viruses.
Differential diagnosis: how to distinguish acute respiratory infections from acute respiratory viral infections?
Although laboratory tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis, in practice, an experienced physician is highly likely to be able to distinguish acute respiratory disease caused by bacteria from acute respiratory viral disease. Although the symptoms are very similar, there are still small nuances.
A general blood test with a detailed leukocyte formula usually allows you to confirm the doctor’s guess.
Viral infections are much more likely than bacterial diseases to become causes of epidemics for the simple reason that viruses spread more easily by airborne droplets and are easier to become infected with.
Therefore, if there are many patients with the same symptoms, doctors are inclined to believe that the cause of the disease is acute respiratory viral infections.
There are about 300 microorganisms known in the world that, when they enter the human body, cause symptoms of acute respiratory diseases or infections. Among them are influenza viruses, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, mycoplasmas, chlamydia, streptococci, pneumococci and staphylococci. Some of the most well-known acute respiratory viral infections are influenza viruses A, B and C.
Difference between symptoms of ARVI and acute respiratory infections
Acute respiratory diseases most often begin with an increase in body temperature to 38 0C, most often without a runny nose or conjunctivitis.
In this case, the symptoms of the disease are constant, without increasing severity. On average, the disease lasts at least two weeks; complications often develop when a bacterial infection occurs.
A blood test in such a patient reveals a large number of neutrophils.
The main difference between acute respiratory infections and influenza, which is included in ARVI, is that with them the body temperature rarely rises above 38 0C, and catarrhal symptoms come to the fore: rhinitis, sore throat, wet cough.
With acute respiratory viral infections, clear symptoms are most often immediately observed. A person feels unwell, weak, lethargic, and has headaches. Then the body temperature rises, a runny nose, swelling of the nasal mucosa, pharynx, and tonsils appear. Sometimes there may be lacrimation and irritation of the eyelid mucosa. A blood test shows a high concentration of lymphocytes and monocytes.
Modern approaches to the treatment of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections in adults
To avoid the development of complications, acute respiratory diseases must be treated.
Such a reasonable approach will allow the patient not only to cope with the ailment without dangerous consequences, but will also provide the opportunity to feel better during the period of illness. Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to fight the bacterial infection.
If the disease is caused by fungi or parasites, then special medications will be required that are designed to eliminate these pathogens.
Etiotropic therapy, aimed at combating the immediate cause of the disease in acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections, in most cases is combined with the use of symptomatic drugs in the form of antipyretics, cough medicines, various sprays and expectorant syrups.
Drugs for etiotropic therapy
Etiotropic drugs that can help quickly cope with acute respiratory viral diseases, including influenza, include antiviral drugs.
They are divided into specific, aimed at combating a specific type of virus, and non-specific, which have a wide range of antiviral activity.
The difficulty of using specific antiviral drugs is that the specific strain of influenza or other infection that led to the disease is not always known.
But nonspecific antiviral drugs are capable of fighting various types of viruses at any stage of their development. Modern antiviral drugs of the latest generation affect only virus-specific processes, with virtually no effect on the biochemical and physical functions of the cell. One of these drugs is VIFERON Suppositories (suppositories).
Drugs for antiviral therapy
The drug VIFERON Suppositories (suppositories) has a direct antiviral effect, because it contains interferon alpha-2b, which is the first to respond to the invasion of the virus, blocking its growth and reproduction.
The complex composition of the drug (alpha-2b interferon + antioxidants (vitamins E and C)) increases antiviral activity.
This drug can be used without age restrictions, including in children from the first days of life, as well as in pregnant women from the 14th week of gestation.1
Viferon suppositories for ARVI
The rectal method of taking the drug ensures the rapid action of the drug through the dense network of blood vessels of the rectum, and also makes it possible to avoid side effects on the liver, stomach and intestines.
It has been clinically proven that a drug administered rectally reaches the circulatory system in a concentration sufficient for treatment. This means that taking the drug VIFERON Suppositories (suppositories) helps fight unpleasant symptoms such as cough, chills and lethargy.
Suppositories not only allow the body to carry out anti-infective protection, but also restore the ability of immune system cells to produce their own interferon.
The drugs VIFERON Ointment and VIFERON Gel can also help cope with acute respiratory viral infections.
Viferon Ointment for ARVI
Human recombinant interferon alpha-2b in combination with highly active antioxidants, which is included in VIFERON Ointment, helps fight influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections at any stage of the disease. The drug VIFERON Ointment is used in the treatment of a wide range of acute respiratory infections.
Its original formula helps not only block the virus, but also restore immunity.
When applied to the skin and mucous membranes, the components of the drug VIFERON Ointment easily penetrate inside, activate local immunity and prevent the multiplication of the virus.
This allows you to cope with the disease faster and get sick less often in the future2.
For the treatment of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections, VIFERON Ointment is applied in a thin layer to the mucous membrane of the nasal passages 3 times a day. The amount of the drug is one pea with a diameter of 0.5 cm, the approximate course of treatment is 5 days.
Viferon Gel for ARVI
VIFERON Gel is also used for the prevention and treatment of acute respiratory viral infections and in the complex therapy of influenza, frequent and prolonged acute respiratory viral infections, including those complicated by bacterial infection.
In addition, the drug is suitable for the prevention and treatment of recurrent stenosing laryngotracheobronchitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx and trachea, which leads to narrowing of the airway lumen and disruption of their functioning.
In order to prevent acute respiratory viral infections, including influenza, it is necessary to apply a strip of gel approximately 0.5 cm long to the nasal mucosa 2 times a day as a preventive measure.
Course duration is 2-4 weeks.
For the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections, including influenza, complicated by a bacterial infection, the application of VIFERON gel must be repeated 3-5 times a day for 5 days.
- Reference and information material
- Author of the article
- Belyaev Dmitry Alexandrovich
- General doctor
- “Efficacy of Viferon® for influenza in adult patients,” R.Z. Gatich, L.V. Kolobukhina, E.I. Isaeva, E.I. Burtseva, T.G. Orlova, F.V. Voronina, V.V. Malinovskaya.
- Z. S. Makarova, V. A. Doskin, V. V. Malinovskaya, V. V. Parfenov “The use of Viferon, an ointment for the prevention of ARVI in children,” Children's infections No. 1, 2007.
Source: https://viferon.su/chem-orvi-otlichaetsya-ot-orz/
Orz and Orvi: the difference (how to distinguish? Important points)
People can get sick with acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections at any time of the year, but there are still characteristic periods when these diseases manifest themselves most actively.
These diseases are very similar in symptoms, but are different in their overall course. Outbreaks of morbidity are recorded, as a rule, in the spring and autumn seasons. Let's determine what the real difference is between acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections.
Explanation of the terms ORZ and ARVI
- ARI is an acute respiratory disease, which refers to any infectious diseases of the nasopharynx, lungs and throat, accompanied by cold-like symptoms.
- Causes can be fungi, bacteria, viruses and parasites.
- The diagnosis of acute respiratory infections is made if the causative agent of the infection is not identified, but the symptoms are present.
Without passing certain tests, it is very difficult to draw conclusions, and you have to wait quite a long time for their results. That is why doctors limit themselves to this terminology of the disease and make an appropriate diagnosis.
ARVI is translated as acute respiratory viral infection. The abbreviation is used by specialists in cases where the causative agent of the disease is obvious and the symptoms are easily predictable.
ARVI occurs when the body is affected by a specific infection, and the tests can quickly diagnose this disease.
It is more acute than just a cold and necessarily affects the respiratory system.
Orz and Orvi - difference, differences, features
The following symptoms are characteristic of an acute respiratory viral infection:
- infection occurs from a specific source;
- high temperature, which sharply reaches 38°C, and can rise up to 40°C;
- there is aches throughout the whole body;
- Antiviral drugs are used for treatment.
Flu and ARVI in 2018: symptoms and treatment
Acute respiratory disease proceeds a little differently and has the following symptoms:
- the main source of infection is hypothermia;
- body temperature ranges from 37 to 38°C;
- symptoms are usually accompanied by cough, runny nose, red sore throat and clear sputum;
- treatment is carried out with antiviral agents; when it becomes bacterial, antibiotics are often added.
How does acute respiratory infection manifest?
- In order to make an accurate diagnosis of acute respiratory infections, you need to see a doctor and provide him with a complete history.
- The disease does not appear immediately; first it goes through the incubation stage of its development.
- After a few days, all the symptoms appear in full, and it is then that it is necessary to take all the tests and diagnose the disease.
- Symptoms characteristic of acute respiratory disease:
- Sneezing and mucus from the nose. This manifestation of the disease occurs because the immune system fights viruses invading the respiratory tract.
- Weakness throughout the body and general malaise. As the body intensively fights infection, it becomes overloaded. This leaves an imprint on the patient’s well-being, his body weakens.
- Temperature. On the second or third day, the thermometer records 38°C. The virus penetrates all systems of the body and is actively rejected.
- Red throat. The throat becomes inflamed, the patient begins to cough, and clear sputum is coughed up.
- The virus affects the gastrointestinal tract. Typically, infection and high body temperature cause diarrhea.
- Tearing. The eyes become red and watery.
- Runny nose. The body begins to actively produce mucus, through which the entire infection is eliminated. The person begins to cough and blow his nose regularly.
How does ARVI manifest?
ARVI is manifested by the following symptoms:
- General health worsens.
- The temperature rises sharply. It lasts long enough and is difficult to knock off.
- Your throat definitely hurts. There are complications - a sore throat with a characteristic white coating on the tonsils is detected. With pharyngitis, the throat becomes inflamed and red. The sputum takes on a greenish or yellowish tint.
- At first there is a dry cough, which gradually turns into a wet one. Against this background, bronchitis develops; at an advanced stage of the disease, signs of tracheitis may appear.
What to do if your ears become blocked after an acute respiratory viral infection
The main difference in the treatment of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections
A bacterial infection is treated with the mandatory use of antibiotics.
Etiotropic therapy is aimed at eliminating the causes of the disease; therefore, symptomatic drugs are prescribed to make the patient feel better. Such drugs include throat and nasopharyngeal sprays, antipyretics, cough medications and expectorants.
- For acute respiratory viral infections, antiviral drugs are sometimes not prescribed.
- An exception is the flu, in which it is necessary to take a course of certain medications.
- It is important to be on your feet less and to maintain bed rest.
The temperature needs to be brought down only when it rises above 38°C. At lower levels, the body is able to fight the infection on its own.
ARVI cannot be treated independently for more than 3 days. If after this time the patient does not feel better, it is necessary to seek help from a specialist.
The following drugs may be prescribed for treatment:
- Anti-inflammatory non-steroidal. Relieves pain and lowers temperature. These medications contain paracetamol or ibuprofen.
- Antihistamine antiallergic. These include Suprastin, Fenistil, Tavigil, Semprex.
- Nasal drops. They help cope with vasodilation and facilitate nasal breathing (Nazivin, Vibrocil, Pinosol).
- Gargling with a decoction of chamomile, sage, calendula.
- Expectorants such as ACC, mucaltin.
Bed rest and drinking plenty of fluids are a prerequisite for successful treatment.
Many people confuse the concepts of acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections. Their symptoms are similar, so for effective treatment the patient needs to see a doctor. Only a specialist can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.
Source: https://lor-orvi.ru/zabolevanie/orvi/orz-i-orvi-raznica/
Orz and ARVI: the difference between diseases and their characteristics
Time for acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections - this is what we call the off-season period when many people get sick.
The symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections are very similar. What is the difference between these two diseases?
Let's define the terms
ARI and ARVI are abbreviations. The abbreviation "ARI" stands for "acute respiratory disease." “Respiratory” means it affects the organs of the respiratory tract, namely the nose, nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs. The cause can be both viruses and various bacteria.
How does “ARVI” stand for? This is an acute respiratory viral disease. That is, this is an acute respiratory infection that is provoked only by viruses. Viruses live on the planet in huge quantities, but the most common among them are rhinoviruses, as well as influenza and parainfluenza pathogens.
Consequently, acute respiratory viral infection is one of the types of acute respiratory infections. The difference between acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections is that acute respiratory infections are diagnosed if the doctor cannot, based on symptoms, determine the causative agent of the disease - a virus or bacteria.
What is the flu? Influenza is a viral disease that causes severe complications, very often heart defects. You should know how to recognize a flu infection in order to seek medical help in time.
Manifestation of diseases
The first signs of the disease are as follows:
- rhinitis;
- increase in body temperature up to 38 ° C;
- the temperature may remain low-grade;
- a sore throat.
- Flu symptoms:
- a sharp increase in temperature up to 40 ° C;
- weakness in the body;
- loss of desire to eat;
- muscle pain, headache.
If the causative agent of acute respiratory infections is not a virus, but a bacterium, then the body temperature may remain around 37 °C for some time. Often with a bacterial infection there is no runny nose. With a sore throat, the patient has a white coating in the throat and swallowing food is difficult. In many cases with acute respiratory infections, the mucus that is rejected has an unusual greenish color, and purulent discharge is present.
As we see, the symptoms of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections are very similar; not always even an experienced doctor can distinguish acute respiratory infections from acute respiratory viral infections. Therefore, diagnostics often require additional tests - blood, throat swabs, the deciphering of the results of which will allow us to identify the pathogen.
A cold is commonly called hypothermia. If for some reason the body gives off too much heat, then soon its defenses weaken, and it becomes helpless against various pests.
Then microorganisms begin to actively multiply, causing inflammation. That is, when asked whether an acute respiratory infection is called a cold or an acute respiratory viral infection, one can answer that it is both, only the root cause is hypothermia of the body.
Pest microorganisms infect the respiratory system, causing inflammatory processes. As a result, the disease begins. Sometimes a bacterial infection is added to a viral infection. Then they talk about complications. In order to avoid them, it is not recommended to visit places with large crowds of people at the first symptoms of a cold or during epidemics.
How are these diseases transmitted?
The difference between ARVI and bacterial acute respiratory infections is that viruses often spread through the air with particles of mucus or saliva of the sick person when sneezing or coughing. You can become infected with the flu or a bacterial acute respiratory infection by picking up an object that has come into contact with saliva or mucus from a patient.
Microbes penetrate the digestive organs and are transferred to the mucous membranes, causing conjunctivitis or other inflammatory processes.
If there are a lot of infected people, health workers talk about an epidemic. In this case, you should be extremely careful when visiting crowded places. In the table you can see the difference between these two concepts.
Nature of the disease | viral | bacterial; viral; allergic. |
Medicines | symptomatic + drink a lot and walk | antibiotics, symptom relievers, antihistamines |
Treatment of adults
To overcome acute respiratory viral infection in adults, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- stay in bed;
- drink a lot of warm, but not hot liquid - compote, herbal infusions, teas;
- you need to use fever-reducing medications only if the temperature is very high;
- clean and ventilate the room more often;
- use a humidifier;
- rinse your nose with saline solution;
- some specialists prescribe antiviral drugs. You need to know that the effectiveness of many of these drugs has not been proven. The exception is drugs from the group of neuraminidase inhibitors, which can be used exclusively in a hospital setting;
- as prescribed by a doctor, use symptomatic remedies to alleviate the condition, such as vasoconstrictor drops, antiseptics for the throat with an analgesic effect. It must be remembered that vasoconstrictor drops are not used for longer than 5 days, as they can be addictive.
If the viral infection does not go away within a week and all signs of the disease persist, the doctor may prescribe additional examinations, such as a chest x-ray. Pneumonia often occurs in older adults and weakened people.
Therefore, they are hospitalized to avoid adverse consequences. Sometimes the disease is complicated by otitis - an inflammatory process in the ear, or meningitis - in the meninges. Therefore, any cold is potentially dangerous and requires treatment in children and adults.
How does acute respiratory infection differ from other types of diseases? There is a difference in treatment between acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections. ARI differs from ARVI in that for bacterial acute respiratory infections, doctors use only antibiotics. Antibiotics do not kill viruses, so they are not suitable for viral infections. There are acute respiratory infections of an allergic nature, which manifests itself in the form of rhinitis.
Such allergies can be overcome with special antihistamines. In this case, acute respiratory infections are called allergic. You need to know that when using drugs, an allergy to their components may occur, in which case the use of the drug should be stopped. When self-medicating, there is a risk of harming yourself, so it is better to go to the doctor.
Treatment of children
Acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections are more common in children because, unlike adults, their immune system is not yet fully strengthened.
Young children suffer from diseases that are passed on to each other in children's groups. Symptoms of viral infection are the same in children and adults.
They differ in that they manifest themselves more acutely in a child. To combat infection, doctors recommend adhering to the following rules:
- do not force feed.
If a child does not want to eat, it means that his body is struggling, he should not be disturbed; humidify the air, ventilate the room to create favorable conditions for the functioning of the mucous membranes; - wash objects and floors in the children's room more often;
- rinse your nose with a salt solution, which you can buy or make yourself;
- maintain the correct temperature in the children's room. The air should be cool, but so that the child does not freeze;
- when the temperature rises, use antipyretics with paracetamol or ibuprofen;
Expectorants should not be used, as they can only worsen the situation. To prescribe such drugs, it is necessary to show the child to a pediatrician.
When to go to the pediatrician
If a child’s acute respiratory infection is not accompanied by a runny nose, but he cannot swallow due to pain, parents should immediately consult a specialist, because these may be symptoms of a bacterial disease. In general, you need to go to the pediatrician if your child has:
- convulsions;
- swelling of the neck;
- nausea;
- labored breathing;
- unbearable sore throat;
- symptoms of illness that last more than 7 days.
Treatment of acute respiratory infections using traditional methods
To heal colds in adults, infusions of lemon balm, mint, thyme, and calendula are often used. Herbal infusions can be used as tea, or you can gargle with them.
Prevention of acute respiratory infections
All people sometimes get sick, since viruses spread very quickly through the air from one person to another upon contact. Therefore, such diseases cannot be completely avoided if you live in society. However, there are ways to reduce the risk of disease. Vaccinations, such as the flu or pneumococcal vaccine, can be used to prevent viral illnesses and some bacterial ones.
If bacteria can be killed with antibiotics, then it is better to protect against viruses with vaccinations. Thus, knowing the main differences between the two diseases, it is easier to prevent illiterate treatment and take preventive measures.
Source: https://respiratornie-bolezni.com/orvi/orz-i-orvi-raznitsa.html
Colds, acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections. How are these diseases different?
Recently, among people there has been more and more confusion in medical terminology. And not even in the medical field, since doctors understand what’s what, many of them are among people who do not have a special medical education. So, today we would like to make an explanation of three terms - colds, acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections. The fact is that a person, thinking that he has a cold, may actually be experiencing symptoms of another disease, and take the wrong treatment methods. This can lead to complications, so let's be careful and get straight to the clarifications.
What is the difference between a cold and acute respiratory infections?
Cold
Colds (colloquial), or colds , are the collective name for acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections. This term actually does not exist in medical terminology.
Underneath a cold, most often lies a completely different disease, for example, acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections or influenza. You can also often hear that a person has a cold on the lips, which is expressed by a small tumor.
In fact, this is simple herpes on the lips, and it needs to be treated with appropriate methods and means.
Sometimes you can find in articles a headline like this: “Cold (ARI, ARVI) …”.
Most often, this is done in order to attract more readers to the site, and the treatment in such an article will most likely correspond to the treatment of acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections.
This is also allowed with the expectation that people by a cold understand the symptoms characteristic of respiratory diseases, and in order not to delve into the essence for a long time, they simply write what a person wants to hear from the media.
So, colds are nothing more than acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, influenza and other infectious diseases of the respiratory system.
ARVI
ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection) is a collective name for respiratory tract diseases caused by exposure to a viral infection on the body - adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, influenza and parainfluenza viruses, as well as a large number of other viruses, the number of which currently amounts to 250 or more.
The main symptoms of ARVI are nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and redness, elevated body temperature, headache, lacrimation, general malaise, chills.
acute respiratory infections
ARZ (acute respiratory diseases) is the collective name for various respiratory diseases, the cause of which is the pathogenic effect on the body of various infections - viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, etc.
Often the diagnosis of acute respiratory infections is made when, at the first examination, the doctor was unable to determine the cause of the illness; it is a virus, bacteria or another type of infection.
After laboratory tests, the diagnosis can be clarified, and if the cause of the disease is a virus, then ARI is changed to ARVI.
In addition, CHWs often use a variety of media. For example, when cold weather sets in, people may start to get sick en masse. But since accurate studies have not yet been carried out, then such epidemiological outbreaks are designated as acute respiratory infections.
Since the group of acute respiratory infections includes not only viral, but bacterial and other types of infections, the course of these diseases can be more complex and more acute than in the case of acute respiratory viral infections.
Symptoms of acute respiratory infections include : runny nose, sore throat and redness, cough, high temperature, headache, pain and aches throughout the body, chills, red eyes.
Causes of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections
- The causes of ARVI are a viral infection.
- The causes of acute respiratory infections are viral, bacterial, fungal and other types of infection.
This is the whole difference between a cold, acute respiratory infection and acute respiratory viral infection.
Otherwise, the causes of these infectious diseases are similar, these are:
Bottom line
Thus, the whole difference between acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) and acute respiratory diseases (ARI) is only in the causative agent of the disease. And “cold” is a colloquial term, by which most people mean symptoms characteristic of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections.
Prevention of acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections. Effective protection
Health, peace and goodness to everyone!
Source: https://medicina.dobro-est.com/prostuda-orvi-i-orz-chem-otlichayutsya-dannyie-zabolevaniya.html
Orz and Orvi: is there a difference?
You need to know the enemy by sight! Autumn is a time when every now and then we have to deal with high fever, runny nose and other unpleasant symptoms. Many people confuse the manifestations of different diseases, uniting them with one concept - “cold”. Meanwhile, there is a difference between the abbreviations ARI and ARVI. We'll tell you which one it is.
ARI - acute respiratory disease
This is the “scientific” name for the general range of colds. The causative agents can be not only viruses, but also bacteria and even fungi. The general symptoms of acute respiratory infections are similar to those of acute respiratory viral infections, but are usually less pronounced.
Treatment of acute respiratory infections includes antiviral or antibacterial therapy, depending on the type of pathogen. As the disease develops, symptoms may appear that are characteristic of a bacterial rather than a viral infection: a white coating on the laryngeal mucosa and a yellowish-green color of sputum.
In the case of a bacterial origin of the disease, the doctor may prescribe treatment with antibiotics, and if a virus is detected, antiviral drugs will be used. In addition, immunomodulatory drugs are often prescribed for the fastest recovery.
ARVI - acute respiratory viral infection
The diagnosis of ARVI implies one of the viral diseases of the respiratory system. Modern medicine includes about 140 viruses that cause ARVI. Rhinovirus infection mainly affects the nasal cavity, adenoviruses affect the upper and lower respiratory tract, and parainfluenza affects the larynx. Each diagnosis requires carefully selected antiviral treatment.
Influenza also belongs to a number of acute respiratory viral infections. Distinctive signs of influenza:
- The disease occurs during an epidemic;
- Symptoms increase acutely and quickly, over several hours;
- The temperature often rises greatly: 38.5–40˚С;
- Symptoms of fever and intoxication: headaches, muscle aches, pain in the eyes, lacrimation;
- The flu is characterized by a dry cough and sore throat;
In the treatment of ARVI, in addition to symptomatic treatment, etiotropic (antiviral) therapy is necessarily used. It is aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease. Special medications prevent the proliferation of viruses and relieve intoxication.
Remember that influenza and other types of acute respiratory viral infections are serious diseases that often threaten complications. When the first symptoms of a respiratory infection appear, you must go to bed rest, call a doctor and follow his further instructions!
Source: https://stolichki.ru/stati/orz-i-orvi-est-li-raznica
What is the difference between ORZ and ORVI
The transition to the autumn-winter period for many is accompanied by diseases such as acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections.
Nasal congestion, cough, sore throat are the main symptoms for which the doctor makes one of these diagnoses. Despite the similarity of the names of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections, there is still a difference between them.
What are these diseases and how do they differ? To answer this question, their nature should be studied in detail.
The concept of colds
Acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, and influenza are combined into one general concept - colds. What does each one represent? Acute respiratory disease (ARI) is an illness caused by pathogenic viruses or bacteria that spread and begin to actively function in the respiratory tract.
The disease is easily transmitted through close contact with an affected person, as well as through household contact. Most often, acute respiratory infections develop as an independent disease, but there are situations when it is a complication of a common cold. In this case, a person requires more potent drugs. The disease lasts longer.
As for ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection), this is essentially an acute respiratory infection, but the cause of its occurrence in humans is exclusively harmful viruses.
Influenza is the most serious disease of the ailments under consideration. Very often leads to serious complications, especially if treated incorrectly or insufficiently.
It is important to know! Acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections and influenza are accompanied by relatively identical symptoms!
Difference between ARVI and ARI
What is the difference between ORZ and ORVI? At the early stage of development of a cold, these diseases are almost impossible to distinguish, because they are accompanied by the same symptoms, such as:
- runny nose, nasal congestion;
- dry or wet cough;
- increased body temperature;
- body aches;
- general weakness of the body;
- fever, chills.
It is for this reason that patients are often diagnosed with acute respiratory infections. In fact, ARVI is a type of acute respiratory disease, only its causative agent is a virus. Also, the diagnosis of ARVI is established in cases where the cold is of an epidemic nature, as well as with more pronounced symptoms.
ARVI and influenza: differences
What is the difference between influenza and ARVI? Influenza, unlike ARVI, develops quite sharply, the symptoms are more pronounced. It also occurs in a more severe form and can lead to serious, even fatal consequences.
As for the symptoms, the temperature during ARVI increases slightly and gradually - up to 38ْC. With the flu, the patient experiences fever and severe chills. Body temperature can reach 40ْC, it is very difficult to break down and persists for 4-5 days.
Nasal congestion is the main symptom of ARVI. The flu is more characterized by a dry cough, which is very difficult to stop. As the disease progresses, the patient experiences severe pain in the chest area.
Flu is characterized by severe redness of the eyes; this symptom is not observed with ARVI. General malaise, rapid fatigue, weakness, migraines, and sleep disturbances accompany a person with the flu even after recovery for some time. With ARVI, these ailments go away along with the disease itself.
Important to remember! At the first alarming symptoms, you need to consult a specialist! It is better not to wait for the severity of signs of the disease. This will help you get rid of it as quickly as possible.
Differences in children - how to distinguish diseases
In order to distinguish between these diseases in a child, one should observe his behavior, well-being and complaints. ARI develops rapidly, in contrast to ARVI, whose incubation period lasts about 5 days. At this time, the child experiences atypical weakness even with minor exertion, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbances.
ARI in a child is treated with medications that relieve symptoms and also provide local treatment. As for ARVI, its treatment requires a detailed examination of the baby and laboratory tests of blood and urine. Based on their results, the doctor prescribes the most effective treatment in each individual case.
Important to remember! It is necessary to pay special attention to preventive measures for colds in children! This is especially true for the cold season.
Treatment of children with acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections
How to treat children with colds? Dr. Evgeniy Komarovsky, who has gained popularity among modern parents, advises carrying out the following comprehensive measures to effectively treat the disease:
- Maintain bed rest throughout the treatment period and dress the child warmly. But the air temperature in the room should be low. You should also pay special attention to air humidification and daily cleaning of the room. Don’t forget to regularly ventilate your child’s room.
- If your baby has no appetite, you should not force him to eat food. It is much more important to pay attention to drinking plenty of fluids. Give your child various teas or decoctions of medicinal plants as often as possible. The temperature of the liquid should not be too hot or cold.
- Rinse your nose with saline solution. Especially if there is a severe runny nose.
- It is necessary to relieve elevated body temperature with medications such as Ibuprofen or Paracetamol.
- If a child has a cough, then the use of expectorants for acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections is strictly not recommended. This can cause even more coughing attacks, because these drugs are intended to treat the lower respiratory tract.
Treatment of children with antibiotics, according to Dr. Komarovsky, is inappropriate. Because they can increase the risk of complications.
During therapy, it is necessary to monitor the development of the disease. You should immediately contact a specialist in the following cases:
- the appearance of seizures at high temperatures;
- difficulty breathing, lack of air;
- pain in the nasopharynx that is not accompanied by rhinitis. This may indicate the appearance of a sore throat, and it should be treated in other ways;
- nausea leading to vomiting;
- swelling in the neck area.
Important to remember! If a child’s fever is not controlled by antipyretics, you need to call an ambulance!
Treatment of colds with folk remedies
In addition to pharmaceutical drugs, you can use folk remedies in the treatment of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections. There are many recipes for preparing medicines based on natural ingredients that do not have side effects. The most effective are:
- chamomile;
- calendula;
- Melissa;
- mint;
- thyme;
- sage.
Decoctions should be prepared from the listed plants. It will be useful to add lemon and honey to them. If you have a painful sensation in your throat, you can gargle with these decoctions. This procedure must be carried out 5 times a day.
An important point in acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections is their prevention. You should regularly take complex vitamins, especially in the autumn-winter period, and spend time outdoors every day. You should also remember to follow a daily routine, because poor nutrition and excessive activity without proper rest lead to a significant decrease in immunity.
Source: http://detki-zdorovy.ru/orz-i-orvi-raznitsa.html/