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What are the complications from the flu?
We often underestimate the danger and carry the disease on our feet: we sneeze and cough, but we go to work. But the consequences of the flu can be dire.
Our expert: therapist Dmitry Sirotenko.
Now it is difficult to find a person who would not have experienced all the “delights” of the flu – body aches, high fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough. And so often this acute viral respiratory infection strikes us in the cold season that we are used to taking it lightly, brought down the temperature, drank powder from the flu, it became easier, which means that we are cured. But in fact, this is one of the insidious diseases, science has identified more than 2 thousand varieties of the virus that causes the flu. And then there are more than 200 types of viruses that are similar in symptoms to the flu, but require different treatment. And without laboratory analysis, it is impossible to determine what exactly caused the painful condition.
Anyone of any age can get the flu. In a team, it is as easy as shelling pears to do this: the virus spreads by airborne droplets. And the incubation period lasts from several hours to a couple of days. The peak incidence occurs in the cold season, when the air temperature is from minus 5 to plus 5 and the respiratory organs are most at risk of infection.
It is easy to confuse the symptoms of an onset flu with ARVI, but the consequences are different. When the virus attacks the body, the resistance of the immune system decreases, and the risk of complications (a process that develops against the background of the underlying disease) increases. And you can quickly get sick with the flu, but suffer from its consequences for a long time.
The main flu symptoms are: temperature over 39 degrees; cough, nasal congestion, headache, body aches, sore throat, vomiting. The risk group primarily includes people with weakened immunity, chronic diseases, the elderly, infants, and pregnant women.
What are the most common complications after the flu?
Pulmonary diseases. The most dangerous, which are even fraught with death, are bronchitis, pneumonia. The flu virus interferes with nasal breathing; The mucous membrane of the airways swells up, secreting mucus, which clogs the airways and promotes the growth of bacteria, causing the body’s defense reaction – a cough. Difficulty breathing, chills, high fever, sweating, coughing – a reason to see a doctor. Remember, pneumonia can develop rapidly.
Sinusites. The patient suffers from headaches, severe nasal congestion, accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the face, while there is no runny nose, the temperature may rise. Although it seemed that the flu was over. This is how the symptoms of sinusitis or frontal sinusitis appear. It is important to consult a doctor on time, take an X-ray and not deviate from the prescribed treatment so that the disease does not turn into a chronic form, which is extremely difficult to treat.
Otitis. Middle ear inflammation is a disease with severe pain syndrome. Young children are most commonly affected. The outflow of fluid from the middle ear into the nasopharynx is impaired, an environment for pathogens is formed. The patient suffers from severe pain in the ear, nasal congestion, fever. The risk of complications is deafness, rupture of the tympanic septum. But antibacterial treatment is quite effective and fast, the main thing is to seek help from a specialist.
Heart diseases. The influenza virus is dangerous because it disrupts the usual activity of blood clotting, microcirculation, and in conditions of a lack of oxygen due to nasal congestion and swelling of the mucous membranes, the cardiovascular system is forced to work in an enhanced mode. If there is a history of heart disease, for example, congenital defects, then there is a high risk of complications. Also, elderly people complain of pain in the heart after the flu.
Kidney disease. Any acute painful condition is accompanied by severe intoxication of the body. Toxic substances accumulate in the muscles (therefore, we feel aches and pulling pains in the legs, arms, back), connective and nervous tissue. The decay products of the infection by the kidneys are excreted within 10 days. And after the flu, back pain, frequent urination, fever are often observed – signs of impending inflammation of the kidneys – pyelonephritis. It is in no case to start the disease, the risk of inflammation degenerating into a chronic form, and these are much bigger problems than a course of antibiotic treatment.
Arthritis. This complication is more susceptible to people with chronic joint diseases or a predisposition to arthritis. Probable symptoms are joint pain, swelling, stiffness of movement. Temperature possible.
But there is good news: complications from the flu still do not happen so often.
If you get the flu, see your doctor. He will prescribe antiviral drugs. Drink plenty of water so that thick mucus does not form, in which bacteria multiply, eat well and take a sick leave so that the body can cope with the disease in a calm state.