Influenza treatment: This is how you get rid of influenza
The flu, doctors speak of influenza, is often confused with a common cold, while expressing the threatening infection usually more sudden and violent. Which symptoms occur classically, which treatment makes sense with a flu and when it becomes dangerous? We will clarify you.
Symptoms of a flu
The flu is a sudden, feverish viral disease caused by influenza viruses. Not to be confused with a summer flu, which is really just a flu infection, so a harmless cold.
After a Incubation period of a few hours to three days The effects of the viruses show up in the first symptoms of influenza. The course of the disease can vary individually. If you are lucky, you will only experience mild cold symptoms after the infection, but those who are unlucky lie flat for three weeks.
These are typical symptoms of a flu:
- fever
- chills
- fatigue
- to cough
- sniff
- Sore throat
- sore throat
- Conjunctivitis
- a headache
- Sensitivity to bright light
- bloated face
- Limb and muscle pain
If you do not know if it is an influenza, read here: flu or cold? Also, here's more about flu symptoms.
Influenza: the right treatment
In the normal course of influenza and non-risk patients, the treatment of the flu symptoms is usually sufficient. The best way to get the funds you need to help with a cold is to kill the nasty flu virus.
- Nasal spray with clogged nose
- Cough suppressant or mucus remover (depending on the type of cough)
- bed rest
- Sufficient airing
- Inhale to calm the respiratory tract
- Sufficient drinking
- Paracetamol, Ibuprofen or ASA help against fever and pain
- Avoid contact with other people so as not to infect anyone
Flu: Helpful home remedies
- Wadenwickel: An old proven remedy for fever is calf wrap. Dip a towel in lukewarm water, wring it out and wrap it loosely around the calves. The resulting evaporation cold cools the body, the fever drops.
- Tea: If you have a flu, you should drink a lot to balance the moisture balance and support the circulation. Tea made from elderberry and lime blossom, which increases mucus production in the bronchi, is particularly suitable. Ginger tea has anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Chamomile tea stimulates the immune system, tea from ginseng helps with exhaustion.
- Chicken soup: Even grandma knew: A proper chicken soup helps you to get well. It not only provides fluid, it also contains important salts. In addition, the miracle soup is said to have an antibacterial effect, which can be very useful especially in the case of an additional infection.
Influenza: treatment in high-risk patients
In some cases, however, home remedies are not enough. The delineation of other diseases such as a cold and a clear diagnosis is particularly worthwhile in the elderly, patients with pre-existing conditions, weakened organism or immunodeficiency, because sufferers of this risk group should have their virus flu treated specifically. For the future, vaccination against flu is recommended for high-risk patients.
The doctor can use antivirals, so-called neuraminidase inhibitorsto initiate a therapy. The neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir, as inhibitors of the enzyme neuraminidase, prevent the multiplication of influenza viruses, but they can not kill existing pathogens. Therefore, the use of neuraminidase inhibitors makes sense only if they taken within 48 hours after onset of illness because at this time the spread of influenza viruses in the body is not yet well advanced.
To prevent influenza, physicians recommend persons 60 years of age or more at risk of influenza.
Influenza: Possible complications
Although influenza is harmless in most cases, it increases Risk of infection, Because the body is severely weakened by the virus, bacteria have easy play and can attack the organism with an infection.
One speaks of one superinfection, Possible diseases are, for example, bronchitis, meningitis, paranasal sinus, middle ear or heart muscle or pneumonia. In case of severe symptoms, a doctor should be consulted.
The best tips about cold there are with us. From home remedies for sore throats, unilateral sore throats, dry dry coughs to yellow runny nose.
Videotipp: The best chicken soup recipe is here!
