Acute upper respiratory tract infection, unspecified (common cold). How to Treat an Upper Respiratory Cough

A throat infection in children is a very dangerous condition that can be complicated by laryngotracheitis and tracheal spasm. It is necessary to carry out timely diagnosis and treatment. On this page, you can see what a throat infection looks like in children in the photo, illustrating the manifestation of external symptoms, such as hyperemia of the pharynx, rashes, swelling, etc. Acute infection of the upper respiratory tract in children can be caused by a viral or bacterial pathogenic microflora, depending on the type of pathogen, etiotropic treatment is prescribed.

Acute respiratory diseases are the most statistically frequent pathology in childhood. The causative agents of acute infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract are most often viruses (up to 95%). Any respiratory virus selectively infects a specific section of the respiratory tract, and not all respiratory tracts.

Among children attending preschool institutions, as well as hospital infections, a significant proportion are mixed viral-bacterial infections.

The increase in the severity of the disease, its complications, as a rule, indicate the addition or activation of a bacterial infection, since there is a violation of the barrier function of the respiratory tract and a decrease in resistance.

At the same time, bacterial lesions of the upper respiratory tract can be primary. So, in more than 15% of cases, due to the isolated effect of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus; Acute purulent otitis media and sinusitis are often caused by pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and pyogenic streptococcus.

In the occurrence of diseases of the respiratory tract, the role of atypical infections is growing. Thus, 35% of children and adolescents are carriers of mycoplasma, which can lead to a recurrent course of diseases of the nose, paranasal sinuses and larynx.

Fungal lesions of the pharyngeal ring are possible, when the fungus Candida albicans under certain conditions acquires pronounced pathogenic (pathogenic) properties.

Viral infection of the throat and upper respiratory tract in children (symptoms)

Acute respiratory viral infections of the upper respiratory tract in a child are a large group of viral infections that account for up to 90% of all cases of infectious diseases. In childhood, each child has up to 8 ARVI diseases per year. Everyone gets sick of them - someone more often, someone less often. In winter, they get sick more often, since viruses are more active during this period, less often in summer.

The cause of a viral throat infection in children is a large group of respiratory viruses (more than 200 viruses), they were first discovered in 1892 by the Russian scientist D.I. Ivanovsky. If we compare the size of bacteria - the causative agents of a large number of infectious diseases with viruses, then 1750 particles of the influenza virus are placed in one bacterium (streptococcus). The first symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection in children give after 2-3 days or after the prodromal period.

Any cell of the body performs a number of functions inherent only to it. In the event of a virus infection, a number of problems arise. So, when the mucous membrane of the bronchi is affected, coughing, wheezing in the lungs, and rapid breathing appear.

Respiratory viruses have several dozen types and subtypes. At the same time, immunity, i.e. the body's immunity after an illness develops only to one strictly defined type or subtype of the virus. Therefore, a person has a real opportunity to get ARVI very often.

A large spread of respiratory diseases contributes to the airborne route of transmission of infection. From the moment of infection to the appearance of the first signs of the disease, very little time passes - from several hours to four days.

The source of infection can be a sick child or an adult who, during a conversation, coughing, sneezing, releases a large amount of viral particles. However, in the external environment, viruses die quite quickly. The most contagious sick person in the first 3 - 8 days of illness (with adenovirus infection - up to 25 days).

In most cases, it is not possible to determine a specific pathogen, and this is not necessary, since the disease is treated in the same way for any etiology. Based on the clinical picture alone, the doctor may assume the presence of a specific infection in several cases: with influenza, parainfluenza, adenovirus and respiratory syncytial infections, which are most common in childhood.

Different forms have their own clinical symptoms of a viral throat infection in children, but they have much in common:

catarrhal symptoms (runny nose, cough, redness in the throat, hoarseness, suffocation);
symptoms of intoxication (fever, malaise, headache, vomiting, poor appetite, weakness, sweating, unstable mood).

The specific symptoms of SARS will depend on which part of the respiratory tract the virus caused the most severe inflammatory process: rhinitis - damage to the nasal mucosa, pharyngitis - damage to the pharynx, nasopharyngitis - damage to the nose and pharynx at the same time, laryngitis - larynx, tracheitis - trachea, bronchitis - bronchi, bronchiolitis - defeat of the smallest bronchi - bronchioles.

However, the severity of intoxication and the depth of damage to the respiratory tract in different respiratory infections are different.

. Scientists distinguish three main varieties of the influenza virus - A, B and C. The most fundamental differences are in the ability to change. Thus, the influenza C virus is practically stable. And, having been ill once, a person acquires immunity for almost a lifetime. This explains the extremely rare incidence of influenza C among adults, this is the lot of children.

Influenza B virus changes moderately, and if only children are ill with influenza C, then children are predominantly ill with influenza B.

Influenza A- the most insidious, it is he who, constantly changing, causes epidemics.

A distinctive feature of the flu is an acute, sudden onset of the disease with severe symptoms of intoxication: high fever, headache, sometimes vomiting, body aches, redness of the face. The catarrhal symptoms of influenza appear later. The most common symptoms of tracheitis in the form of a dry painful cough, runny nose.

Influenza symptoms are mostly similar to those of other SARS. However, the tendency of the virus to predominantly affect the mucous membranes of the trachea and bronchi leads to a more severe course of the disease with influenza than with other acute respiratory viral infections.

Parainfluenza. With parainfluenza (unlike influenza), catarrhal symptoms appear from the first hours of illness in the form of a runny nose, a rough "barking" cough, and hoarseness of voice, especially noticeable when a child cries. Choking may develop - false croup. Symptoms of intoxication with parainfluenza are mild, the temperature does not rise above 37.5 ° C.

With adenovirus infection, from the very first days of the disease, there are abundant mucous or mucopurulent rhinitis, a wet cough, as well as conjunctivitis, acute tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils). The submandibular and cervical lymph nodes are enlarged. Manifestations of intoxication, insignificant at the beginning of the disease, gradually increase with the development of the disease. It is characterized by a long (up to 20-30 days), often undulating course of the disease, when, after the disappearance of the main symptoms, they reappear after 2-5 days.

Respiratory syncytial viruses mainly affect the lower respiratory tract - the bronchi and the smallest bronchioles. The child develops a strong wet cough, expiratory dyspnea and signs of respiratory failure, i.e. obstructive syndrome develops.

Bacterial and viral-bacterial throat infection in children and its symptoms

A bacterial throat infection in children rarely develops on its own in the primary form. As a rule, it is a complication of an incorrectly treated viral form of the disease. Important to remember: any respiratory viral infection significantly weakens the defenses of the child's body. This contributes to the attachment of a bacterial infection (staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci, etc.) and the development of complications, often of a purulent nature. A viral-bacterial infection develops in children, which is why acute respiratory viral infections in children of early and preschool age are often accompanied by pneumonia (pneumonia), inflammation of the middle ear (otitis media), inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis or frontal sinusitis). In addition, under the influence of respiratory infections, dormant chronic foci of infection in the child’s body are revived. Chronic tonsillitis, chronic bronchitis, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, etc. are exacerbated.
age can cause a delay in physical and mental development.

How does the human body react to the penetration of the virus? Of course, he begins to fight the "invader" first by means of nonspecific immunity - phagocytosis, lysozyme, interferon, the complement system, etc., and then by the production of specific antibodies.

The virus that enters the cell actively multiplies and quickly leads to the death and destruction of the cell it has captured. From the disintegrated cell, viruses enter the blood, and there antiviral antibodies are already waiting for them. Therefore, ARVI will last exactly as long as the body needs to synthesize antibodies. The terms for the production of antibodies are short and amount to 5-10 days. The antibodies neutralize the virus and the disease ends.

SARS is a contagious disease. However, as a rule, when a child develops malaise, runny nose, cough, fever, the mother will not say that her baby has ARVI, she will say unequivocally and with conviction that she has caught a cold. Pay attention to the characteristic symptoms of a viral and bacterial infection in children, as a rule they are more severe and have a long clinical manifestation.

The word "cold" has several meanings - the cooling to which the body has undergone, and the disease caused by such cooling (colloquial).

Therefore, a cold most often has nothing to do with SARS. On the mucous membrane of the nose, pharynx, bronchi there is a large number of microbes (not viruses, but bacteria), which, when the body's resistance decreases, cause diseases. Hypothermia, excessive sweating, walking barefoot, excessive physical activity, drafts, cold water can contribute to a decrease in the child's defenses. When it comes to ARVI, it means getting infected from an already sick person.

The article has been read 5,586 times.

Quite often, a person suffers from inflammation of the respiratory tract. Provoking factors are hypothermia or a cold, SARS, influenza, and various infectious diseases. If timely treatment is not started, everything can end in serious complications. Is it possible to prevent the inflammatory process? What treatments are available? Is respiratory inflammation dangerous?

The main symptoms of inflammation of the respiratory tract

Symptoms of the disease will depend on the individual characteristics of the patient's body and the degree of damage to the respiratory tract. We can distinguish such general signs that appear during the introduction of the virus. It often leads to severe intoxication of the body:

The temperature rises.
There is a severe headache.
Sleep is disturbed.
Muscle pain.
Appetite decreases.
There is nausea, which ends with vomiting.

In severe cases, the patient has an excited and inhibited state, consciousness is upset, a convulsive state is observed. Separately, it is worth noting the signs that depend on which particular organ is affected:

Inflammation of the nasal mucosa (rhinitis). First there is a severe runny nose, the patient constantly sneezes, his nasal breathing is difficult.
Inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa (pharyngitis). The patient has a strong perspiration in the throat, the patient cannot swallow.
Inflammation of the larynx (laryngitis). The patient is disturbed by a strong cough, the voice is hoarse.
Tonsillitis (tonsillitis). There is severe pain when swallowing, the tonsils also increase significantly, the mucous membrane reddens.
Inflammation of the trachea (tracheitis). In this case, he suffers from a dry cough that does not go away within a month.

If the respiratory disease is caused by parainfluenza, the temperature rises no higher than 38 degrees for about 2 days. Symptoms are moderate. With parainfluenza, laryngitis most often develops.

Separately, it is worth noting adenovirus infection, which affects the respiratory tract. It most often occurs in the form of tonsillitis, pharyngitis, the digestive system and eyes are also affected.

Video: Respiratory tract. Treatment and prevention of respiratory diseases.

Medical treatment of airway inflammation

The attending physician in the inflammatory process prescribes:

Video: Elena Malysheva. Prevention, symptoms and treatment of influenza

Antiseptic drugs - Chlorhexidine, Hexetidine, Timol, etc.
Antibiotics - Framycetin, Fusafunzhin, Polymyxin.
Sulfonamides can be combined with anesthetics - Lidocoin, Menthol, Tetracaine.
Hemostatic drugs, this group of drugs contains plant extracts, sometimes beekeeping products.
Antiviral drugs - Interferon, Lysozyme.
Vitamins A, B, C.

Bioparox - antibacterial agent

Video: Elena Malysheva. epiglotitis

The antibiotic Bioparox has proven itself well, it is released in the form of an aerosol, it can be used to effectively cure acute respiratory tract infections. Due to the fact that Bioparox contains aerosol particles, it acts immediately on all organs of the respiratory tract, therefore it has a complex effect. Bioparox can be used to treat acute rhinosinusitis, pharyngitis, tracheobronchitis, laryngitis.

Gestetidine is an antifungal drug.

This is the best medicine for the treatment of inflammation in the pharynx. The drug is released in the form of an aerosol solution for rinsing. Hexetidine is a low-toxic agent, so it can be used to treat infants. In addition to the antimicrobial action, Hexetidine has an analgesic effect.

Alternative methods of treatment of inflammation of the respiratory tract

Recipes for the treatment of rhinitis

Fresh beet juice. Drip 6 drops of fresh beet juice, you need to do this in the morning, afternoon and evening. It is also recommended to use beetroot decoction for instillation of the nose.
Boiled potatoes. Cut boiled potatoes into several parts: one is applied to the forehead, the other two parts to the sinuses.
Soda inhalation. Take 500 ml of water, add 2 tablespoons, if there is no allergy, you can add eucalyptus oil - 10 drops. The procedure is carried out at night.

Recipes for the treatment of tonsillitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis

Lemon. Eat one lemon at once with the peel, before that cut it. You can add sugar or honey.
Herbal collection is used for gargling. It is necessary to take pharmacy chamomile - 2 tablespoons, eucalyptus leaves - 2 tablespoons, lime blossom - 2 tablespoons, flaxseeds - a tablespoon. Means to insist for half an hour. Gargle up to 5 times a day.
Propolis infusion. Crushed propolis - pour 10 grams in half a glass of alcohol. Leave everything for a week. Rinse three times a day. When treating, drink tea with honey and herbs.
Egg yolk remedy. It is necessary to take the yolk - 2 eggs, beat it with sugar until foam forms. With the help of the tool, you can quickly get rid of a hoarse voice.
Dill seeds. It is necessary to take 200 ml of boiling water and brew dill seeds in it - a tablespoon. Leave for about 30 minutes. Drink after eating no more than two tablespoons.
Curd compress on the throat will help relieve inflammation, irritation from the throat. After a few procedures, you will feel better.

So, in order to avoid the inflammatory process of the respiratory organs, it is necessary to treat a cold in a timely manner. Do not think that the disease will go away on its own. If you start a runny nose, the bacteria from your nose will start to descend. First they will be in the nose, then in the pharynx, then in the larynx, trachea and bronchi. Everything can end with pneumonia (pneumonia). To prevent complications, it is necessary to take measures at the first symptoms, and do not forget to consult a doctor.

All interesting

The inflammatory process of the mucous membrane of the trachea is classified as tracheitis. This disease occurs in acute and chronic form. Quite rarely, tracheitis occurs in humans as an independent disease, mainly inflammation occurs on ...

Almost everyone has had to deal with inflammation of the vocal cords. In this case, laryngitis is diagnosed. With inflammation, the gap between the vocal cords closes and narrows, everything ends with loss of voice, hoarseness. Most often…

Video: Live Healthy! Symptoms of BronchitisIn this article we will look at what is chronic pneumonia? How to understand that you have an inflammatory process of the upper respiratory tract - symptoms, treatment. And also, consider the main reasons ...

Acute tracheitis is most often a complication of rhinitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis. It occurs due to a viral infection, staphylococcus, can rarely be provoked by streptococcus. Acute tracheitis occurs when the patient inhales dusty, dry,…

Inflammation of the lymph nodes does not occur just like that, most often it is provoked by a cold, flu, and damage to the respiratory system. The inflammatory process is accompanied by an increase in lymph nodes in size. What causes…

There are a large number of methods for treating the throat, you can choose medication, but it is not always effective and useful, so it is better to pay attention to folk methods of treating the throat. Before that, it is important to find out what caused the pain and ...

Video: How to treat angina with folk remediesTreatment of angina is a long and indeed painful process. And medications do not always help in eliminating inflammation, sometimes it is folk remedies that become a real salvation from angina. AT…

Video: Treatment of dry cough with folk remedies in children. Cough in a child always accompanies a specific disease. It appears due to viruses, bacteria. Before treating a cough, you need to find out about its cause, the only way to alleviate the condition ...

Video: Treatment of the common cold Folk remedies. (Treatment of cold, Peoples remedy.) A cold may occur as a result of hypothermia, a viral infection. With it, severe headaches occur, body temperature rises, a runny nose is observed, ...

With tracheitis, the voice sits down, it tickles in the throat, then unpleasant pain sensations appear in the laryngeal region, the cough is hoarse, with it dense thick sputum leaves. Cough bothers a person in the morning when a person goes outside, also ...

Since ancient times, cough has been treated with honey and milk. These products soften the mucous membrane and relieve inflammation and redness from it. Honey is one of the strongest remedies for the immune system, it can be used to heal a large number of…

Bacteria, respiratory illness, URTI… All these concepts mean one thing - diseases of the upper respiratory tract. The list of their causes and manifestations is quite voluminous. Consider what a respiratory tract infection is, the treatment and drugs used in therapeutic methods, which medicine is the most effective, how viral and bacterial infections of the respiratory tract differ.

Respiratory diseases are the most common reasons for visiting general practitioners and pediatricians. This disease is mostly seasonal. The peak incidence for such an ailment as viral and bacterial infections of the respiratory tract occurs in the autumn-winter months. Diseases of the upper respiratory tract are both common and life-threatening.

In the vast majority of cases, respiratory diseases (acute infectious diseases) occur in children. But there is also an infection in adults, mainly of viral origin. Even in the absence of complications, the drugs of first choice are often antibiotics. One of the reasons for their use in children and adults is to meet the requirements of the patient or the child's parents, aimed at the best and most effective treatment.

It is clear that antibiotic therapy should be used for bacterial infections. It is estimated that in about 80% of cases, antibiotics are used to treat an ailment such as acute respiratory infections and respiratory diseases. It is more dangerous for children. Approximately, in 75% of cases, drugs from the group of antibiotics are prescribed for inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.

However, the so-called prophylactic antibiotic therapy. It is used for upper respiratory infections, but it does not prevent possible complications that occur later. Therefore, in most cases, people without immunological disorders or other risk factors, without the presence of underlying chronic diseases, symptomatic therapy is recommended.

Upper respiratory infections symptoms and treatment

In cases where the course of the disease is confirmed by the results of analyzes of the selected biological material, and antibiotics are prescribed for inflammation.

In uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infections and in immunocompetent individuals, symptomatic treatment is the mainstay of treatment. Acute rhinitis, sinusitis, otitis media, pharyngitis and laryngitis in 80-90% of cases are caused by viruses. Antibiotic therapy has practically no effect on their clinical course. In cases where the course of the disease is confirmed by the results of analyzes of the selected biological material, and antibiotics are prescribed for inflammation.

In addition, when a high temperature is maintained for a long time (longer than a week), the involvement of bacteria can be recognized. With common pathogens - Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Mycoplasma pneumonie a Chlamydia pneumonie - aminopenicillins or cotrimoxazole, macrolides or tetracycline preparations are prescribed.

Upper respiratory tract infection: treatment of complications

Acute epiglottitis with bacterial etiology and streptococcal angina are diseases that require penicillin antibiotics. In particular, in the case of epiglottitis, hospitalization with parenteral administration of a broad-spectrum penicillin or a 2nd or 3rd generation cephalosporin is appropriate. Therapy is supplemented with corticosteroids.

Lower Respiratory Infections

Similar recommendations apply for the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections such as tracheobronchitis and acute bronchitis. Viral etiology is the most common and accounts for up to 85% of cases. But even in these cases, antibiotic treatment in both children and adults is not necessary, it is considered only in case of a serious course of the disease or in a person with immunodeficiency.

If the presence of intracellular pathogens (mycoplasma pneumoniae, chlamydia pneumoniae) is proven during a long and severe illness, macrolides, cotrimoxazole or doxycycline are the first choice drugs.

The most common infectious respiratory attacks include acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although it is known that exacerbations can be caused by several non-infectious causes, in practice antibiotics are also administered in these cases. The etiological agent, according to many studies, in COPD can be detected in 25-52% of cases.

However, there are doubts whether pneumococcus bacteria or Haemophilus influenzae, which chronically colonizes the respiratory tract (breathing difficulties) and leads to pathogenic exacerbations of the disease, causes the disease.

If upper respiratory tract infections occur, symptoms include increased production of colored purulent sputum, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath along with bronchitis symptoms, and sometimes high fever. The introduction of antibiotics is indicated in the detection of inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein, leukocytes, sedimentation.

Procalcitonin is a sensitive acute phase reagent for distinguishing between bacterial and non-infectious causes of inflammation. Its value increases within 3-6 hours, peak values are reached after 12-48 hours from the moment of infection.

The most commonly administered antibiotics include aminopenicillin, tetracycline, macrolide generation - clarithromycin, azithromycin. Quinolone drugs are suggested in the treatment of infections in which bacterial agents have been demonstrated. The benefit of macrolides is a broad antibacterial spectrum, high antibiotic concentration in bronchial secretions, good tolerability and relatively low resistance.

Despite these positive aspects, macrolides should not be administered as the first choice of antibiotics. Equally important are factors such as the relatively low cost of treatment. Therapy usually lasts 5-7 days. Its effectiveness and safety are comparable.

Flu

Influenza is a viral infectious, highly contagious disease that affects all age groups. Both a child of any age and an adult can get sick. After an incubation period, that is, from 12 to 48 hours, fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint pain, and a feeling of weakness appear. The disease is accompanied by cough, upset stomach and can cause other serious secondary infectious complications.

In adults who already suffer from some chronic diseases, the course of influenza can be complicated. Young children and the elderly are the most vulnerable group. It is estimated that, on average, about 850,000 cases occur during the flu season. Symptomatic treatment with bed rest is necessary. In the case of secondary complications or patients at serious risk, antibiotics are administered.

Pneumonia

The main criteria for diagnosing pneumonia and its difference from lower respiratory tract infections are as follows:

acute cough or significant worsening of chronic cough;
dyspnea;
rapid breathing;
high fever lasting more than four days;
new infiltrates on chest x-ray.

Many studies have shown that consistently the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia in European countries is pneumococcus, followed by Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, staphylococcus, and, less often, gram-negative bacteria.

In the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, two approaches are used, which are based on the findings of retrospective studies. We are talking about combination therapy with a beta-lactam antibiotic together with macrolides or doxycycline, or quinolone monotherapy.

In the first variant, the immunomodulatory effect of macrolides is positively used, which are also effective in cases of simultaneous infection with mycoplasma pneumonia, chlamydia pneumonia, legionella.

Mixed infection with the presence of more pathogenic microorganisms occurs in 6–13% of cases. If after three days there is no improvement in the clinical condition or progression of radiological findings, the original option should be reconsidered and antibiotic treatment changed.

New samplings of biological material from the respiratory tract, including bronchoscopic aspirates, can prevent this condition so that the treatment is fully targeted. In these cases, it is necessary to cover not only the usual bacterial spectrum, but also often resistant strains - pneumococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and anaerobic bacteria.

With nosocomial pneumonia, in which the infectious agent comes from the hospital environment, it is most often about enterobacteria - Pseudomonas aeruginosa, pneumococcus, staphylococcus, anaerobic bacteria. In this case, early treatment within four hours is very important, which is initially untargeted. Typically, therapy includes a combination of aminoglycosides to cover Gram-negative bacterial populations and drugs effective against anaerobic pathogens and fungi.

Complications and risks of respiratory infections

Typically, therapy includes a combination of aminoglycosides to cover Gram-negative bacterial populations and drugs effective against anaerobic pathogens and fungi.

Epiglottitis is one of the most serious and life-threatening complications. In severe cases, choking may occur. Pneumonia is another serious illness that comes with symptoms that affect the entire body. In some cases, a serious condition develops very quickly, requiring hospitalization.

Pleurisy is a common complication of pneumonia. In the case of these complications, the pain subsides, breathing worsens, as the lungs become oppressed by the fluid that has formed between the pleural sheets. In some cases, pneumonia is accompanied by a lung abscess, rarely gangrene in immunocompromised patients, or extensive bacterial infection.

Severe pneumonia can lead to sepsis and so-called septic shock. In this case, fortunately, a rare complication, severe inflammation of the whole organism occurs with the risk of multiple organ failure. In this case, artificial ventilation of the lungs, the introduction of a combination of very strong antibiotics and the maintenance of vital functions are necessary.

It should be expected that the course of relatively mild respiratory infections may be complicated by the adverse effects of several risk factors. The most common include chronic smoking, including passive smoking, age over 65 years, alcohol abuse, contact with children, pets, poor social conditions, poor oral hygiene.

In some people, chronic diseases - diabetes, coronary heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, immunosuppressive therapy for other diseases - are a serious risk factor that can seriously complicate the situation in respiratory diseases and lead to a life-threatening condition.

Influenza vaccination

Voluntary vaccination and vaccination of risk groups remains the only effective preventive measure. There are currently three main types of influenza vaccines. They differ in composition, depending on the content of either inactivated virus, inactivated viral particles, or only hemagglutinin and neuraminidase antigens. Another difference lies in reactogenicity and immunogenicity.

The most commonly used is an inactivated vaccine made from trivalent inactivated viral particles. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the trivalent vaccine be used for only two subtypes of influenza A and one influenza B. Subtype selection is made annually by WHO, in particular for the northern and southern hemispheres.

Vaccination against pneumococcal infection

The primary source of pneumococcal infection is pneumococcal bacteria, there are more than 90 serotypes. Invasive pneumococcal infection is considered dangerous, which causes pneumococcal pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media, sepsis, and arthritis. Risk groups are people over 60 years old, as well as children under the age of 5 years. The source of infection is a sick person or a carrier of the pathogen. The disease is transmitted by droplets. The incubation time is short, within 1–3 days.

Vaccination against pneumococcal infection with a polysaccharide vaccine is carried out for persons in medical institutions and nursing homes, as well as for long-term patients. In addition, immunization against pneumococcal infection is indicated for patients suffering from chronic respiratory diseases, diseases of the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and insulin treatment of diabetes. Organ transplant patients, people with cancer, long-term immunosuppressive therapy should be vaccinated.

For vaccination, the most commonly used 13-valent conjugate vaccine containing serotype 13 polysaccharide, or 23-valent vaccine.

Finally

Respiratory infections are very common and affect almost all categories of the population. The majority of casualties are being treated on an outpatient basis and this trend is expected to continue in the future.

One of the most important points in deciding on therapeutic methods is to determine whether it is reasonable to conduct only symptomatic treatment, or antibiotic treatment is a must.

In the case of infections of the upper respiratory tract and acute bronchitis without a visible bacterial agent, a combination of antipyretic drugs, plenty of fluids and vitamins is especially effective. The impact of this therapy is underestimated.

The individual's risk factors and the possible occurrence of complications should be taken into account. Currently, a variety of antibacterial drugs are used to treat bacterial infections. In addition to the undoubted advantages of such treatment, adverse effects should also be expected. They are individual, and for each person can have different manifestations.

In addition, the ongoing risk of spreading antibiotic resistance and the increase in the number of initially susceptible pathogens must be taken into account.

Skillful use of antibiotics can reduce the problem and prevent the devaluation of these drugs. Vaccination, a healthy lifestyle, and reducing the risk factors mentioned above will reduce the incidence and risk of complications of respiratory infections.

In general cases, the presence of an inflammatory process in the respiratory tract is accompanied by such signs:

elevated temperature;
headache;
sleep problems;
aches in the joints;
aching in the muscles as after hard work;
lack of appetite;
nausea and often vomiting.

Depending on the site of the primary localization of the infection, other specific signs are also found.

In particular, if we are talking about such a problem as rhinitis (inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose), then the patient at the first stage:

abundant snot appears;
he sneezes all the time;
as edema develops, breathing becomes difficult.

Pharyngitis is an acute disease of the throat. A clear sign of the disease are:

difficulty swallowing;
resi;
lump feeling;
itching in the palate.

Laryngitis is an inflammation that affects the larynx. Its consequences are:

dry irritating cough;
hoarseness;
plaque on the tongue.

Tonsillitis is a process that specifically affects the tonsils. The latter noticeably increase in size, which makes it difficult to swallow normally. Mucous membranes in this area turn red and inflamed. She is also a pathology that affects the upper respiratory tract - tracheitis. This ailment has a very characteristic symptom - a dry, agonizing cough that sometimes does not go away for a month.

The development of parainfluenza is evidenced, first of all, by the relatively low temperature for viral infections, which does not exceed 38 degrees. Hyperemia usually persists for 2 days in the presence of symptoms common to the group under consideration, which are not too pronounced. Almost always, the disease mentioned above becomes the background for the development of laryngitis.

It is also worth mentioning the adenovirus infection. It also mainly affects the respiratory tract and gradually leads to the development of:

pharyngitis;
tonsillitis.

Moreover, the digestive system and organs of vision often suffer from it.

Treatment with drugs

To combat pathologies of the type in question, the doctor usually prescribes a set of tools that allow you to quickly improve the patient's condition.

For a local effect on the foci of inflammation, it is advisable to use such fairly effective medicines:

Thymol;
Chlorhexidine;
Furacilin;
Hexetidine.

In the presence of a bacterial infection, antibiotics are prescribed (tablets or sprays):

Polymyxin;
Framycetin;
Fusafungin.

To reduce the severity of sore throat, the following anesthetics are allowed:

Tetracaine;
Lidocaine.

Perfectly softens discomfort preparations containing menthol and eucalyptus oil.

To fight viruses appoint:

Lysozyme;
Interferon.

Useful for strengthening immunity and tonic vitamin complexes. For young children, herbal preparations should be used, as well as those that contain bee products.

Of the modern medicines, it is worth highlighting the antibiotic Bioparox. This remedy is produced in the form of an aerosol and is used for inhalation. Due to the fact that the drug comes directly to the focus of inflammation, even very acute ailments are treated quickly. The medicine is shown in situations if it is detected:

laryngitis;
tracheobronchitis;
pharyngitis;
rhinosinusitis.

Often the causative agent is some kind of fungal infection. Hexetidine will help here. This tool is supplied to pharmacies in the form of:

spray;
rinse solution.

ethnoscience

If we are talking about rhinitis, then freshly squeezed beetroot juice will help. It must be instilled directly into the nose every 4 hours.

Warm boiled potatoes can also reduce the severity of symptoms. To do this, put his slices:

on the forehead;
to the nostrils.

Inhalation is a fairly simple, but extremely effective procedure. Here you will need:

half a liter of hot water;
2 tablespoons of baking soda;
eucalyptus oil no more than 10 drops.

It is recommended to breathe healing steam before going to bed. Knowledgeable people are also advised to eat crushed lemon mixed with a few tablespoons of natural honey at night. In one sitting, you must immediately consume the whole fruit along with the peel.

Rinsing with a decoction based on the following medicinal herbs, taken in equal parts, also helps:

chamomile;
Linden;
eucalyptus leaves;
mint.

A collection in the amount of 6 tablespoons is poured into boiling water and kept for an hour in a thermos. It is advised to use the drug at least 5 times a day. Propolis tincture relieves inflammation well. For this, 10 grams of the product is taken and added to half a glass of alcohol. Infuse the medicine for a week in a dark place, shaking daily. Also used for rinsing, diluting 10-15 drops with half a glass of warm water.

Sore throats eliminate egg yolks. 2 pieces are ground with sugar to a thick white foam and slowly eaten.

A decoction of dill seed is taken after meals, two tablespoons. Prepare it like this:

a glass of hot water is placed in a water bath;
fall asleep dried raw materials;
heat for 5 minutes without bringing to a boil;
last up to half an hour.

Upper respiratory infections can be caused by exposure to viruses or bacteria. The latter lead to damage to the mucous membrane much more often, and it is advisable to use antibacterial agents for their treatment. The local therapist and pediatrician often do not have enough time to establish the exact factor that led to the development of rhinitis or tonsillitis, so it is necessary to use broad-spectrum drugs: penicillins, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, macrolides.

Treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract

Diseases of the upper respiratory system include:

rhinitis, or runny nose;
otitis, or inflammation in the middle ear;
infection of the lymphopharyngeal ring of the pharynx, or tonsillitis, adenoiditis;
inflammation of the sinuses, or sinusitis;
hoarseness of voice with pathology in the larynx - pharyngitis;
inflammation of the back wall of the mouth and pharynx.

Doctors use various drugs, the choice of which depends on the cause of the disease: for a viral infection, antiviral agents are prescribed, and if bacteria are detected in the mucosa of the organ, antibacterial drugs are used. The main antibiotics used to treat diseases of the upper respiratory tract include:

Penicillins, the main representatives of which are Ampicillin, Amoxiclav, Flemoxin Solutab and others.
Fluoroquinolones are "reserve" drugs prescribed for allergic intolerance to drugs from the penicillin group. The most commonly used Levofloxacin, Avelox, Moximac, etc.
Cephalosporins are broad-spectrum drugs. Names of representatives - Kefsepim, Ceftriaxone, Zinnat.
Macrolides have a similar mechanism of action to penicillins, but are more toxic. This group includes Summamed, Azithromycin, Hemomycin.

Penicillins

Penicillins are broad-spectrum antibacterial agents that were discovered in the middle of the last century. They belong to beta-lactams and are produced by fungi of the same name. These antibiotics fight many pathogens: gonococcus, staphylococcus, streptococcus, pneumococcus, etc. The mechanism of action of penicillins is associated with a specific effect on the microbe wall, which is destroyed, which makes it impossible for the reproduction and spread of infection.

The drugs are used for:

inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system (otitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia, tracheitis);
diseases of the kidneys, bladder, urethra, prostate;
infections of the musculoskeletal system;
pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, enteritis, pancreatitis).

Ampicillin is one of the very first drugs in this group, so many pathogens have developed resistance and do not die during treatment. Now doctors are prescribing improved medicines - this is Amoxiclav, to which clavulanic acid has been added - it protects the main substance and helps it get inside the microbe.

The composition of Flemoxin Solutab contains amoxicillin in various dosages, it is also available in the form of tablets. However, its price is almost 10 times higher than the domestic drug.

Ampicillin helps to cure diseases caused by the following microbes: streptococcus, staphylococcus, clostridia, Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria. Contraindications for prescribing the remedy are allergic intolerance to penicillins, liver failure, drug-induced colitis and age up to a month.

For the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory system, children over 10 years of age and adult patients are prescribed one tablet - 500 mg 2 times a day. Patients from 3 to 10 years are recommended to take 375 g (250 mg and half a dragee) 2 times a day. Babies over one year old should only take 1 tablet of 250 mg twice. The course of treatment lasts no more than 7 days, after which it is necessary to re-examine.

Fluoroquinolones

Fluoroquinolones are powerful antibacterial agents, therefore they are used only for the treatment of diseases with severe complications or intolerance to drugs of the beta-lactam group. The mechanism of their action is associated with the inhibition of the enzyme responsible for gluing protein chains in bacterial nucleic acids. When exposed to the drug, a violation of vital processes occurs, the pathogen dies. With prolonged use of fluoroquinolones, addiction may develop as a result of improved bacterial defense mechanisms.

These antibiotics are used to treat:

acute inflammation of the nasal sinuses;
chronic tonsillitis and adenoiditis;
recurrent bronchitis and tracheitis;
diseases of the urinary system;
pathology of the skin and its appendages.

Levofloxacin is one of the earliest drugs in this group. It has a wide spectrum of activity: it kills many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Contraindications for the appointment of Levofloxacin are epilepsy, amnesia, allergic intolerance to the drug, pregnancy, lactation period, minor age. For the treatment of acute inflammation of the sinuses, the drug is prescribed at a dose of 500 mg - this is 1 tablet, which must be taken within 2 weeks. Therapy of laryngitis and tracheitis lasts less - 7 days in the same dosage.

Avelox belongs to the fluoroquinolones and is used to treat respiratory diseases. It contains moxifloxacin, which also has a bactericidal effect against many microorganisms. The drug can not be used for young children, with pathology of the nervous system (convulsive syndrome), arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, kidney failure, pregnancy, breastfeeding and for patients with pseudomembranous ulcerative colitis. For treatment, Avelox is prescribed at a dose of 400 mg once a day for 5 days, after which the patient should consult a doctor again. Side effects are often headaches, pressure drop, shortness of breath, confusion, impaired coordination. After the onset of these symptoms, it is necessary to stop treatment and change the drug.

Moximac is a means of a broader spectrum of action, as it inhibits the activity of sporogenic legionella, chlamydia, and methylene-resistant strains of staphylococcus. After oral administration, the drug is absorbed instantly, it is detected in the blood after 5 minutes. It binds to blood transport proteins and circulates in the body for up to 72 hours, and after 3 days it is excreted by the kidneys. Moximac should not be used for children under 18 years of age, as it is highly toxic. The drug depresses the activity of the nervous system and disrupts metabolic processes in the liver. Moximac is also not recommended for pregnant women, especially in the first trimester, since the pathological effect on the fetus is caused by the passage of fluoroquinolones through the placental barrier. For the treatment of the respiratory system, the drug is prescribed 1 tablet per day, they must be taken for 5 days.

Fluoroquinolones can only be drunk once a day, since the half-life of the drug is more than 12 hours.

Cephalosporins

Cephalosporins are beta-lactam antibiotics and were first chemically isolated from the fungus of the same name. The mechanism of action of drugs in this group is the inhibition of chemical reactions that are involved in the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall. As a result, pathogens die and do not spread throughout the body. Currently, 5 generations of cephalosporins have been synthesized:

1st generation: Cefalexin, Cefazolin. They affect mainly gram-positive flora - staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria. Cefalexin and Cefazolin do not affect Proteus and Pseudomonas. For the treatment of the respiratory system, 0.25 mg per 1 kg of body weight is prescribed in 4 divided doses. The duration of the course is 5 days.
2nd generation: Cefaclor, Cefuroxime. Bactericidal against staphylococcus, beta-hemolytic and common streptococcus, Klebsiella, Proteus, peptococcus and acne pathogens. Resistance to Cefaclor is present in several species of Proteus, Enterococcus, Enterobacteriaceae, Morganella, Providence. The method of treatment is to take 1 tablet every 6 hours for a week.
3rd generation: Cefixime, Cefotaxime, Cefpodoxime. They help in the fight against staphylococcus, streptococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, Morganella, Escherichia coli, Proteus, the causative agent of gonorrhea, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Clostridium and Enterobacteria. The half-life of drugs lasts no more than 6 hours, so for the treatment of diseases it is recommended to follow the following regimen - 6 days, 1 tablet 4 times a day.
4th generation: Cefepim and Cefpir. Drugs are prescribed when resistance (resistance) of the pathogen to 3rd generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides is detected. It has a wide spectrum of action and helps to cure diseases caused by staphylococcus, streptococcus, enterobacteria, neisseria, gonococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella, clostridia, Proteus, etc. For the treatment of the respiratory system, the 4th generation of cephalosporins is used only when severe complications appear in the form of purulent meningitis with acute bacterial otitis media. These drugs are produced only in injectable form, therefore they are used during inpatient treatment.
Ceftobiprol medocaril sodium is one of the modern preparations of the 5th, the last generation of cephalosporins. It is a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent and affects all types of pathogens of respiratory diseases, including protected forms of streptococcus. It is used only in severe cases, when serious complications have arisen and the patient is on the verge of life and death. It is produced in the form of ampoules for intravenous administration, therefore it is used in a hospital setting. After taking Ceftopribol, an allergic reaction is observed in the form of a moderate rash or itching.

Cephalosporins are used to treat inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx and throat, pneumonia, bronchitis, tracheitis, gastritis, colitis, pancreatitis. Contraindications for their appointment are minority, pregnancy, lactation, liver failure and kidney disease.

Side effects often include fungal infections of the skin, vagina, and urethra. Headaches, dizziness, itching, redness, local temperature increase at the injection site, nausea and changes in laboratory blood parameters (decrease in red blood cells and hemoglobin, increased levels of cellular transaminases and other enzymes) are also observed. During treatment with cephalosporins, it is not recommended to use drugs from the group of monobactams, aminoglycosides and tetracyclines.

Macrolides

Macrolides are a separate group of antibacterial agents with a wide spectrum of action. They are used to treat many diseases in all areas of medicine. Representatives of this group have a powerful bactericidal effect against gram-positive microorganisms (staphylococcus, streptococcus, meningococcus and other cocci) and intracellular obligate pathogens (chlamydia, legionella, campillobacteria, etc.). Macrolides are produced synthetically based on the combination of a lactone ring and carbon atoms. Depending on the carbon content, preparations are divided into:

14-membered - Erythromycin, Clarithromycin. Their half-life is from 1.5 to 7 hours. It is recommended to take 3 tablets per day one hour before meals. The course of treatment lasts 5-7 days, depending on the type of pathogen and the severity of the course.
15-membered - Azithromycin. It is excreted from the body within 35 hours. Adults for the treatment of respiratory organs take 0.5 g per 1 kg of body weight for 3 days. Children are prescribed 10 mg per 1 kg per day, which must also be consumed in 3 days.
16-membered are modern drugs, which include Josamycin, Spiramycin. They are taken orally an hour before meals, at a dose of 6-9 million units for 3 doses. The course of treatment lasts no more than 3 days.

When treating diseases with macrolides, it is important to observe the time of administration and diet, since absorption in the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract decreases when there is food in it (food residues do not have a detrimental effect). After entering the blood, they bind to proteins and are transported to the liver, and then to other organs. In the liver, macrolides are transformed from a proactive to an active form with the help of a special enzyme - cytochrome. The latter is activated only at 10-12 years of age, so the use of antibiotics in young children is not recommended. The cytochrome in the child's liver is in a less active state, the effect of the antibiotic on the pathogen is disturbed. For young children (over 6 months), a 16-mer macrolide can be used, which does not undergo an activation reaction in this organ.

Macrolides are used for:

Diseases of the upper respiratory tract: tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, rhinitis.
Inflammatory processes in the lower parts of the respiratory system: pneumonia, bronchitis, tracheitis.
Bacterial infections: whooping cough, diphtheria, chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea.
Diseases of the skeletal system: osteomyelitis, abscess, periodontitis and periostitis.
bacterial sepsis.
Diabetic foot when infection occurs.
Acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis.

Adverse reactions are extremely rare, among them are abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, loose stools, hearing impairment, headache, dizziness, prolongation of electrocardiogram parameters, allergic urticaria and itching. Macrolides should not be given to pregnant women, since azithromycin is a factor contributing to the development of abnormalities in the fetus.

Antibiotics for diseases of the upper respiratory tract should be used only when the cause of the disease has been clarified, since if used incorrectly, many complications can develop in the form of fungal infections or dysfunctions of the body.