Cold is the most common disease, both among children and adults. In medical terminology, this ailment is called acute respiratory disease (ARI).
There are many opinions about how to treat a cold. Despite the seeming harmlessness of ARI, the wrong treatment, like the wrong diagnosis, can lead to unfortunate consequences.
The cold primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. But if you let the process of treatment to drift, then there is a danger of bronchitis, pneumonia, sore throat and other serious illnesses. Also, having confused a cold with ARVI, you risk getting complications, because the symptoms of ARI do not differ much from the symptoms of other colds.
Symptoms of a cold:
- the temperature rarely rises above 38 ° C;
- runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, throat obstruction;
- the feeling of weakness does not last long, and is not expressed strongly.
The presence of other signs (high fever, headache and muscle pain, severe coughing, exhaustion) indicates an influenza virus or ARVI. Many believe that the common cold is a consequence of infection with a virus that easily attacks a supercooled and weakened body. But the studies give different results, and only converge in the fact that antibiotics for colds are not effective and even dangerous. The normal number of diseases of ARI in children per year is 3-4 times. If the child is sick more often and for a long time, then one should pay attention to the state of immunity. ORZ in adults is 1-2 times a year on average. In the event of painful sensations, it is better to take immediate measures, and begin treatment for the common cold.
How to cure a cold?
Despite the possibility of complications, most of the population prefers folk remedies for treating colds. Checked on the experience of grandmothers, decoctions and infusions do not have such side effects as medicines. Each person has his own recipe, which he repeatedly helped him. The only danger of self-treatment lies precisely in the wrong diagnosis and in the possibility of the occurrence of chronic diseases. Often one can observe how people get rid of symptoms, run to work and send their children to school, and a weak body has to continue to perform many functions in addition to fighting the disease. Here there are complications after ARI. And if you treat a cold properly, the internal strength of the body will not be spent on a long struggle with the disease. There are simple recommendations, which should be adhered to in case of acute respiratory disease:
- the temperature to 38 ° C should not be brought down, it is the best medicine against colds and viruses (with the exception of individual reactions to fever (cramps, heart problems, etc.);
- Do not take food without appetite and try to feed sick children;
- drink plenty of liquid, preferably containing vitamins and nutrients (herbal infusions, fresh juices, fruit drinks). It is also recommended to use sour-milk products (kefir, ryazhenka, whey, curdled milk);
- with a runny nose you must wash your nose, do not expect that it will pass by itself. Can pass or take place, and can and remain in the form of a chronic genyantritis;
- often ventilate the room, the air should be moderately cool and moist;
- adhere to bed rest. This will speed up the recovery process and protect you from complications.
If treatment of acute respiratory disease does not work, then take a survey, especially with prolonged coughing and other complications.
Colds in children
If your children are prone to frequent colds, you can read Dr. Komarovsky's book "ORZ: A Guide for Sense Parents". His recommendations are based on practical experience and help to protect children from the negative effects of medicines. Often, for the treatment of ARI in children, frightened parents resort to potent drugs, believing that having removed the symptoms, they will help the baby. In practice, it turns out differently - children get sick longer and more often, as the immunity weakens. The best way to treat ARI is to allow the body to cope on its own without interfering.
The above does not apply to very young children. Their condition is better to be controlled by a good specialist. However, if a specialist prescribes antibiotics for a cold without a diagnosis,
Prevention of acute respiratory disease
Prevention of acute respiratory infections, especially in the off-season, also does not hurt. Eat plenty of vitamins, fruits, fresh vegetables. Often be in the fresh air, do strengthening physical exercises, avoid overwork and stress. Often ventilate the home, especially with the onset of the heating season. It will be useful to master breathing exercises - saturation of the body with oxygen significantly increases immunity. Take care of your health and colds will not be terrible.