How to distinguish influenza from ARVI

Are you ill and do not know what kind of illness, SARS or flu? How to distinguish the flu from ARVI, let's try to figure it out in order to keep the situation under control and prevent the emergence of serious problems related to health.

What do these diseases mean?

A number of acute viral respiratory diseases that are caused by various viruses are ARVI.Such a disease can be caused by many viruses. For example, adenovirus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, coronavirus, etc. The flu is an acute respiratory viral infection caused by the influenza virus. The flu, however, is isolated from a large group of ARVI, and that's why. The flu is very severe, often complications and even greater mortality. This disease is characterized by an epidemic that covers a large part of the population.

Distinguishing symptoms of these diseases

Symptoms of SARS and influenza start differently. Symptoms of acute respiratory viral infection always arise gradually. With flu, the onset of symptoms is always stormy, you can tell for sure when you determined that you were sick.

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A slight increase in temperature is characterized by a cold, rarely it rises above 38 degrees. When there is a flu, a very high temperature increase( 39-40 degrees) is observed, which lasts several days( 3-4).

Symptoms of intoxication in ARVI and influenza are also different. With ARVI, working capacity remains, there is a slight malaise, weakness, dizziness. When the flu develops severe chills and headaches in the temporal region, there is profuse sweating, dizziness. There is photophobia, aches in the joints and muscles, with the movement of eyeballs there are pain. With the flu, it is worth noting, usually a strong cold does not happen, only stuffiness of the nose, and with ARVI, nasal congestion and a strong cold is constantly present. Almost always colds are accompanied by reddening of the throat and pains in it. With the flu, such symptoms are not always present.

In cases of colds, cough and chest sensation of discomfort are manifested from the initial stage of the disease and are of moderate or mild character. With flu, a person has a painful cough and severe pain in the chest. These symptoms usually appear on the second day of the disease. When the flu is rare sneezing, with ARVI - quite often. With a cold, rarely reddening of the eyes, most often with concomitant microbial infection. With the flu, redness of the eyes is present quite often. It is worth noting that after the last ARVI a person feels always satisfactory, and after the last flu - insomnia, irritability, headaches can last for about 2-3 weeks.

Consider the opinion of experts

Experts say that the flu has no specific signs. Influenza and ARVI differ usually above these symptoms, but this is not always the case. In other ARVI and influenza symptoms may be similar to the principle. To reliably make sure that a person is sick with the flu, a positive test result for the flu is needed. Such tests are done in the sanitary and epidemiological services and hospitals. Nowadays, there is a special test to diagnose the flu, which is sold in the pharmacy.

At the first cough and sneezing, do not immediately run to the doctor. It will be advisable to go to a doctor in the following cases. If the flu epidemic is approaching or has already come. If you have a high fever( above 38 degrees), if you have pronounced flu symptoms. You need to see a doctor if, after some relief, the condition worsens again, if there are pains in the chest connected with breathing, there is an ache in the body, shortness of breath. It is obligatory at the first signs of the flu to consult a doctor if the child is sick, a pregnant woman or an elderly person. And also those who have diseases associated with the respiratory system, liver, kidneys, cardiovascular system. Do not forget that ARVI, in most cases, does not carry serious complications in the human body. Influenza is insidious because it can cause various serious complications in the body.