Definition
The flu refers to a viral disease affecting the upper and / or lower respiratory tract: we are talking about a contagious and acute infection, accompanied by rather unspecific symptoms.
Causes
Influenza is a viral disease; means that the viruses are the only ones responsible for its onset; specifically, the viruses most involved belong to the Ortomixoviridiae family (type A, B and C flu). The infection, by air, occurs through contact / inhalation of saliva-infected micro-droplets, spread through the environment through sneezing, coughing or simply speaking.
Symptoms
Although rarely, the flu can run in a completely asymptomatic way, most of the time, however, it occurs in a non-specific way with anorexia, asthenia, chills, headache, breathing difficulties (tearing, pharyngitis / laryngitis, dry or oily cough with mucous sputum, sometimes rich in pus, sneezing), fever, gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea).
Possible complications: otitis, sinusitis, bacterial pneumonia
Diet and Nutrition
Natural care
Influenza information - Influenza treatment drugs are not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Influenza - Influenza Medication.
drugs
Given that the flu does not depend directly on a bacterial infection, antibiotics are contraindicated not only because they are ineffective for healing, but also because they are potentially harmful: in fact, the use of antibiotics weakens the immune system, prolonging the patient healing time. The use of antibiotics is reserved exclusively for complications and / or for bacterial co-infections.
Antiviral drugs are sometimes recommended to reduce the duration of the disease and to alleviate flu symptoms; it is important to remember that the administration of antiviral drugs is useful for healing purposes only when it occurs within 48 hours of symptom onset.
Therapeutic aids, such as antipyretic drugs and painkillers, are indicated to reduce fever and to relieve pain, which are useful to help the patient overcome illness better.
Antiviral drugs against influenza
It is worth repeating once again: antiviral drugs fully carry out their therapeutic activity exclusively when taken within 2 days of the appearance of the flu prodromes.
- Amantadine (eg Mantadan) it is recommended to take 100 mg of drug (1 tablet) orally once a day, for 4-5 days, in full compliance with what is indicated by the doctor.
- Rimantadine (eg Flumadine): it is recommended to take the drug orally at a dose of 100 mg twice a day, for 7 days, unless further instructions from the attending physician.
- Oseltamivir (eg Tamiflu, Oseltamivir) take the drug (class: neuraminidase inhibitors) at a dose of 75 mg twice a day, for 5 days. The administration of this drug is useful to prevent the risk of complications of influenza, especially in the elderly. Generally, the use of Oseltamivir reduces symptoms in 1-2 days.
- Zanamivir (eg. Relenza): the drug (class: neuraminidase inhibitors) should be taken by inhalation at a dose of 10 mg every 12 hours, for 5 days. When possible, take the first two doses on the same day as onset of symptoms, after two hours. The maximum therapeutic response can be obtained when the drug is taken within 30 hours of the onset of the first flu symptoms.
Pain-relieving / antipyretic drugs against influenza
- Ibuprofen (eg. Brufen, Moment, Subitene): take an active dose of 200-400 mg (tablets, effervescent sachets) every 4-6 hours, as needed. In some cases, the analgesic can also be taken intravenously at a dose of 400-800 mg every 6 hours, as needed.
- Paracetamol (or acetaminophen, eg Tachipirina, Efferalgan, Sanipirina) indicated to reduce pain and to reduce fever in the context of influenza. Taken orally in the form of tablets, syrup, effervescent sachets, or suppositories, the drug is generally administered at a dose of 325 - 650 mg every 4-6 hours for 6-8 consecutive days, in order to reduce body temperature. Paracetamol can also be found in association with phenyloloxamine: it is recommended to take one tablet / tablet of 30-66 mg per os, respectively every 4-8 / 12 hours. Consult your doctor.
- Acetylsalicylic acid (eg Aspirin, Vivin, Ac Acet, Carin): the drug, indicated for adults only, should be taken at a dose of 325-650 mg / day, orally or rectally, every 4 hours, as needed ( do not exceed 4 grams per day). The administration of the drug to children under the age of 12 can cause serious side effects, such as Reye's syndrome, liver dysfunction and brain changes.
Prevention of influenza
The most effective method for prophylaxis of influenza is vaccination; vaccines act by "teaching" the immune system to defend itself against a disease. Each year specific vaccines are presented against new virus strains that could be responsible for a new flu pandemic, as very few people are immune to it. Influenza viruses, in fact, are characterized by high genetic variability, which allows them to "evolve" and evade the immune response activated previously with infection or vaccination.
It is also possible to administer antiviral drugs (oseltamivir, 75 mg once a day for 10 days and zanamivir, 10 mg once a day for 10 days) for post-exposure prevention of influenza, no later than 48 hours from contact with the virus.
