ORZ (acute respiratory disease) is a collective concept, characterizing all possible diseases of the respiratory tract - viral, viral-microbial and purely microbial, and also caused by intracellular parasites.

The main manifestations of acute respiratory infections are lesions of all parts of the respiratory tract - from the nasopharynx to the bronchi and lungs.

Based on the type of pathogen, there are three large groups of acute respiratory diseases: viral, microbial, caused by protozoa, mixed infections (viral-microbial, microbial-microbial, viral protozoa).

Symptoms of acute respiratory infections

The entire clinical picture of acute respiratory infections can be divided into two large categories: catarrhal respiratory manifestations, general infectious symptoms.

Respiratory manifestations of acute respiratory infections include:

• runny nose,
• dry or wet cough,
• manifestations of acute tonsillitis,
• sore throat, soreness, redness,
• manifestations of false croup,
• voice changes - hoarseness, hoarseness,
• manifestations of conjunctivitis,

Common infectious manifestations include:

• fever,
• malaise, headache,
• decreased appetite, refusal to eat,
• enlarged liver and sometimes spleen,
• enlarged lymph nodes,
• signs of toxicosis - anemia, pallor, nausea.
• muscle pain, joints,
• skin rash.

Diagnostics

The basis for the diagnosis of acute respiratory infections is the clinical picture, supplemented by data from a general blood test with signs of microbial or viral inflammation.

With microbial acute respiratory infections there will be leukocytosis, with viral - lymphocytosis.

To determine the type of microbial pathogen, it is necessary to culture mucus from the nose and throat, as well as serological diagnostics - determination of antibody titer, increasing several times, or DNA pathogen.

Treatment of acute respiratory infections

Treatment methods largely depend on, what pathogen causes acute respiratory infections?. Common activities include:

• drinking plenty of fluids,
• diet – warm, pureed food,
• bed rest.

If these are viral acute respiratory infections, only symptomatic treatment is necessary, in case of microbial acute respiratory infections, a prerequisite is the prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics (penicillins, of cephalosporins), and for chlamydial and mycoplasma infections - specific treatment (macropen or rulide).

Otherwise, the principles of treatment are similar for all types of acute respiratory infections.:

• antipyretics (nurofen, paracetamol - for children, For adults, dissolved aspirin is acceptable),
• anti-inflammatory sprays, lozenges, tablets (tantum-verde, strepsyls),
• antitussives, expectorants (synecdoche, ACC, ascoril),
• cold remedies (change, acalor, pinosol),
• Vitamin C, multivitamins,
• folk medicine (linden blossom, tea with honey, milk and butter).

For most acute respiratory infections, the prognosis is favorable, complete recovery occurs. Specific prevention methods have been developed for certain types of acute respiratory infections.:

• flu vaccine,
• Haemophilus influenzae vaccine (Act-HIB),
• pneumococcal vaccine (preventer or pneumo-23),
• meningococcal vaccine (meningo A+C).