ARD or FLU

Things that patients, as well as doctors, should know about these diseases. As the flu season begins, all of us become doctors and readily start diagnosing ARD, VURI, parainfluenza, colds, tonsillitis, rhinitis and tonsillitis. And numerous sneezing and coughing relatives and friends allow one to coach oneself in diagnosis. It seems that some people enjoy doing this in the October to April period.

A doctor with professional knowledge cannot but look on and smile. It is a particular pleasure to watch people arguing over a diagnosis - cold or ARD. Let's sort out this medical mess.

So, 'a cold' is a popular diagnosis, similar to the medical term ARD. This abbreviation stands for acute respiratory diseases. The plural form is used here because there are a number of respiratory tract diseases which resemble each another.

Three common traits

All ARDs have common traits. First, they are infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria or other germs. Second, all these microbes make their way into the human body through the respiratory tract. Third, the respiratory tract is the main part of the body which suffers from these diseases. That is why they are called acute respiratory diseases. The key word is respiratory, and it means - related to breathing. The word acute means that these diseases are not chronic, that they develop very quickly and do not last long. ARDs are caused by various pathogenic organisms.

VURI - Viral Upper Respiratory Tract Infections. It is clear from the name that they are caused by viruses. These diseases include flu, parainfluenza, adenovirus infection, rhinovirus, coronaviral infection, respiratory syncytial virus and other ARDs caused by more than 200 viruses.

Almost all of these diseases are very similar and one name is used to describe them. Flu should be distinguished from among these VURIs as it is the most serious ARD and may cause complications in the heart, veins or lungs.

Flu requires special attention and treatment. It is caused by a flu virus from the orthomyxovirus family. This disease makes us suffer not only in its acute period, but also during recovery. These persistent viruses can pose complications, undermining the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, affecting the respiratory apparatus and leading to chronic bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia or meningitis. So, how can this dangerous disease be distinguished from an ordinary VURI? 

Looking for differences

VURI symptoms develop gradually, whereas the onset of influenza symptoms is immediate. It starts suddenly and immediately knocks one down. VURI is not generally accompanied by fever, whereas a flu patient has a fever up to 40C or even higher, which may last 3-4 days. Those suffering from VURI do not feel very well but can still continue their normal life style. They can even go to work, although this is not recommended. The situation is much worse if it is flu. Even workaholics can hardly get out of bed - shivering, excessive sweating, headache, dizziness, muscle and joints pains prevent them from doing so. 

A runny nose and sore throat are very common VURI symptoms. Those suffering from flu may have only slight nasal congestion and local redness on the posterior wall of the throat and palate. Coughing is a symptom common to both VURI and flu, but the VURI cough is moderate, whereas during flu coughing is strong and sharp. Sneezing is rarely a symptom of flu and a common symptom of VURI. However, flu symptoms are sometimes moderate or not observed at all. The clinical course of the disease depends on the general state of a patient's health, on the patient's age and on whether the patient has contracted this particular virus before. One recovers easily from VURI, but it is much more difficult to recover from flu. Fatigue, weakness, headache, petulance and insomnia may persist for 2-3 weeks.

Vaccination and modern prophylactic medicines are the best way to protect oneself against flu. Any flu vaccine (live or inactivated) will have a positive effect. Unfortunately viruses mutate and this makes it impossible to protect oneself from them by vaccination alone. Vaccination does not guarantee hundred per cent protection against contracting flu, but it can protect one from complications. Vaccination is of special importance for children and the elderly, who often suffer from flu complications.

Corroborative measures (observing a daily regimen, healthy diet and psychological conditioning), a high-vitamin diet and flu remedies prescribed by a doctor (bendazol, tilorone, methylglucamine acridonacetate, anaferon, aflubin etc.) may prevent one from contracting a virus or at least reduce the harm it causes.