How to tell the flu from the common cold. symptoms of flu, ARVI, ARI. How do flu symptoms differ from ARVI?

If you wake up in the morning, you cough and sneeze, your head hurts, your muscles ache, your temperature is high, how do you know if it's a cold or the flu?

It is important to know the difference between flu and cold symptoms. Colds have a milder course. If a cold incapacitates you and makes you feel worse for only a few days, the flu “works on it” from a few days to several weeks. Influenza, unlike colds, can lead to serious complications, up to pneumonia with hospitalization.

What are the symptoms of a cold?

The first symptom of a cold is usually a sore throat that disappears on the second or third day. Rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, cough last about 4-5 days. Fever is not common in adults, but mild (low-grade) fever is possible. Children are more prone to fever with colds than adults.

During a cold, a watery secretion is secreted from the nose for the first few days. Later, the discharge becomes thicker and becomes darker in color. The dark color of mucus is natural and does not indicate the development of a bacterial infection (such as sinusitis).

Several hundred viruses cause colds.

How long do cold symptoms last?

On average, a cold lasts about a week. The first three days of illness, you are contagious to others. This means you can transmit the virus to people in contact with you. So, if possible, stay home and relax.

If symptoms persist and do not improve for more than a week, chances are a bacterial infection has joined the cold and you will need antibiotics.

Sometimes cold symptoms can be confused with allergic rhinitis (hay fever) or sinusitis. If the symptoms pass quickly and there is an improvement within a week, this is a common cold, not an allergy. If the improvement does not come after a week, get checked by a doctor, it is probably an allergy or sinusitis.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

Whether a person is sick with the usual seasonal flu or swine flu, the symptoms are almost the same. The flu is more severe than the common cold and the symptoms increase faster. Flu symptoms include: sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches, nasal congestion, cough. Swine flu is associated with vomiting and diarrhea.

Most symptoms will improve within two to five days. A common complication of influenza is pneumonia, especially in children and the elderly, and in people with lung and heart disease. If you have shortness of breath, tell your doctor. Another sign of pneumonia is recurrent fever (the temperature rises again the day after the recession).

Just like viruses that cause colds, influenza viruses enter the body through the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and eyes. Wash your hands thoroughly each time you touch these areas, as this could introduce infection.

Flu symptoms and cold symptoms

How can you tell if you have a flu or a cold? Many will advise taking the temperature to determine. The flu often disguises itself as a cold, accompanied by nasal congestion, coughing, pain and malaise. But with a common cold, the temperature rarely rises more than 38.4C °. With the flu, fever occurs due to the activity of viruses, which leads to weakness and weakness. Body and muscle aches are also more common with flu. This table will help you understand your symptoms:

Symptoms	Cold	Flu
Temperature	Sometimes, usually not high	Almost always, high (38-39C °, especially in young children), lasts 3-4 days
Headache
Other pains	Not strong	Often, strong
Weakness, lethargy		Often, it can last 2-3 weeks.
Heavy condition, exhaustion		Often, especially at the onset of the disease
Stuffy nose
Sneezing
Sore throat
Chest discomfort	Mild to moderate	Often strong
Cough	Dry cough
Complications	Sinusitis, inflammation of the middle ear	Sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis media, pneumonia, m. life-threatening
Prevention	Wash your hands often, avoid contact with people with colds	Wash your hands often, avoid contact with people with the flu, get a seasonal flu shot, talk to your doctor about antiviral drugs
Treatment	Antihistamines, decongestants, anti-inflammatory drugs	Antihistamines, decongestants, analgesics (ibuprofen, paracetamol), antivirals in the first 48 hours after symptoms develop. Effective remedy both for colds and flu is the drug "Kagocel". Ask your doctor for more details.

When should i see a doctor for a cold or flu?

If you already have the flu or cold, talk to your doctor if you have one or more of the following symptoms:

– Persistent fever... This may indicate the addition of a bacterial infection that needs to be treated.

- Painful swallowing... While sore throat with a cold or flu causes mild discomfort, with the development of sore throat, the sore throat increases, this requires mandatory treatment with a doctor.

- Recurrent cough... If the cough does not go away for more than 2 or 3 weeks, it may mean the development of bronchitis, for which antibiotics are needed to treat. Drainage of mucus from the nasopharynx and sinusitis can also lead to recurrent coughing. In addition, asthma can lead to recurrent coughing. For the treatment of asthma, steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, bronchodilators are used.

- Persistent nasal congestion and headache... When there is no drainage of fluid from the sinuses, it leads to sinusitis. Occurs with colds and allergies. If pain in the face and around the eyes, as well as thick yellow or green nasal discharge, does not go away for more than a week, you have a bacterial infection and need antibiotics.

In some cases, an emergency is required health care... Signs of a critical condition in adults are:

Severe chest pain
Strong headache
Dyspnea
Dizziness
Confusion of consciousness
Profuse (severe) vomiting

Signs of a critical condition in children:

Difficulty or rapid breathing
Bluish complexion
Inadequate fluid intake
Drowsiness and decreased activity
Increased irritability
Improvement and then sudden worsening of symptoms
Fever with rash.

Can the flu or colds be prevented?

The most important way to prevent colds, seasonal flu and swine flu is to wash your hands thoroughly. Washing hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds removes harmful germs from the skin.

In addition to washing your hands, you can get a seasonal flu shot to prevent flu. Typically, the rise in seasonal influenza activity occurs between late December and March. Therefore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccinations in October or November. Two weeks after the vaccination, antibodies are produced in the blood to protect the body against flu symptoms.

If you get the flu, it's best to see your doctor. He will prescribe you antiviral drugs that can also be used to prevent influenza if you have been in contact with a sick person.

If a person was chilled the day before, and the next day he woke up with a runny nose, sore throat and cough, then they say that he caught a cold. The doctor in the clinic diagnoses ARVI or ARI and prescribes treatment without going into details. A high body temperature also indicates a possible flu infection. It is not surprising for a person far from medicine to get confused in all these terms. First, let's try to figure out how the common cold differs from ARVI.

Colds should be distinguished from SARS in order to properly prescribe treatment

ARVI is a collective name for a group of diseases viral naturein which the upper respiratory tract ... Microscopic pathogenic microorganisms that are causative agents of the disease can belong to different families. There are about two hundred of them. This category includes viruses that cause, in addition to influenza and parainfluenza, infections such as:

rhinovirus;
adenoviral;
coronavirus;
respiratory syncytial;
metapneumoviral;
enteroviral;
reoviral;
bocavirus and others.

Note: patients sometimes get confused when it comes to harmful microbes, so let's be clear. The bacterium is a primitive unicellular organism. The virus has a much smaller size, has no cellular structure and is able to exist and reproduce only in the body of a sick person or its secretions.

So, what is the difference between a cold and ARVI? Hypothermia can cause viral diseases, increasing a person's susceptibility to infection and making it easier to get infected. There is also a risk of exacerbation of chronic inflammatory processes in the respiratory system. People call this condition a cold. In official medicine, this term does not mean a disease, but excessive cooling of the skin, which is one of the factors contributing to the occurrence of ARVI.

Symptoms

The manifestations of the so-called "colds" diseases are similar to each other, regardless of the type of pathogen, which can only be identified in laboratory conditions. Treatment of acute respiratory viral infections of various etiologies involves the appointment of the same type of drugs, therefore, differential diagnosis is carried out only in difficult cases. At the initial admission, the doctor is guided by clinical signs. From the definition of the disease, it can be concluded that the symptoms of a cold and ARVI do not differ. The patient complains of such unpleasant sensations as:

pain and sore throat;
chills and fever;
nasal congestion and watery discharge from it;
dry barking cough;
pain in the eyes and watery eyes;
body aches and muscle pain;
general weakness and malaise.

Sore throat and sore throat - a symptom of ARVI

The therapy is primarily aimed at strengthening the immune system and eliminating painful symptoms. A weakened body during this period becomes especially vulnerable to bacterial infection, therefore, cases of its attachment are often diagnosed.

Antibiotics do not affect the activity and vital activity of the virus. They are prescribed only in the case of a confirmed bacterial nature of the disease, which is established based on the results of a special laboratory analysis.

Having figured out how to distinguish a cold from an acute respiratory viral infection, to summarize: hypothermia reduces the body's immune defenses and makes it more susceptible to virus attack. However, a frozen person does not always get sick, and cold is not the root cause of the disease. Strong immunity and regular hardening procedures increase the body's resistance.

What is ARI?

Sometimes, when characteristic signs of respiratory tract damage appear, the doctor diagnoses ARI. Acute respiratory illness is not a disease, but rather a medical term. Such a conclusion is made if the nature of the disease is not entirely clear. The causative agents of acute respiratory infections can be not only viruses, but also bacteria and fungi. Various pathologies can be hidden under this term, in particular:

laryngitis;
angina;
pharyngitis;
rhinitis;
bronchitis.

The diagnosis made by the doctor implies the possible addition of a bacterial infection with ARVI or an exacerbation of chronic diseases of the nasopharynx.

Many parents are interested in how to distinguish acute respiratory infections from acute respiratory viral infections in a child. A similar question may arise in adult patients. Focusing only on the symptoms, at the initial stage of the development of the disease, it will not be possible to find out reliably. It is possible to establish the exact cause of the pathology and identify the pathogen only based on the results of laboratory tests. For this, the following studies are carried out:

PCR analysis of a smear from the throat and nose: varieties of microorganisms are differentiated by fragments of their DNA;
sowing: the type of bacteria found in sputum or nasal secretions is identified, and their sensitivity to antibiotics is established;
enzyme immunoassay (ELISA): antibodies to bacteria and viruses are determined.

A doctor should make an accurate diagnosis for a child

The exact nature of the disease will additionally help to find out clinical analysis blood. An excessive number of neutrophils will indicate the activity of pathogenic bacteria. A viral infection is characterized by pronounced leukocytosis and an increased level of lymphocytes.

Primary diagnosis

However, there is still little difference in symptoms associated with a viral or bacterial infection. The activity of staphylococci, streptococci and other pathogenic microorganisms can be independently determined by the following features:

general weakness, growing within two to three days;
coryza with thick yellow-green discharge;
cough with sputum discharge, which gradually worsens;
persistent subfebrile temperature;
the appearance of a whitish plaque on the tonsils in case of their defeat.

A gradual increase in the symptoms of acute respiratory infections is due to the relatively slow introduction, growth and reproduction of pathogenic bacteria. A yellowish and greenish color of nasal secretions or sputum indicates an admixture of pus, which is a collection of dead bacteria and leukocytes. Serous plaque on the tonsils also indicates the activity of harmful microbes and the development of tonsillitis.

Viruses enter the body much faster, their multiplication is more intense. The increase in ARVI symptoms is observed in a shorter time. Already on the first day, the patient can rise heat, aches in muscles and joints appear. The patient suffers from a dry cough, there is a clear and liquid discharge from the nose. The virus infects the mucous membranes, which also manifests itself in the form of symptoms of conjunctivitis.

Dry cough is one of the symptoms of ARVI

So, we found out what is the difference in basic medical terms. Patients should no longer have questions like: "Is a cold an ARI or ARVI?" Now let's take a closer look at how to differentiate the influenza virus.

Influenza virus: difference

In medicine, there are three main types of influenza virus. Colds or ARVIs of various etiologies are less dangerous for the body and are much easier to tolerate. Particularly insidious is the type A influenza virus, which, by mutating and mutating, causes seasonal epidemics and pandemics. The possibility of death is not excluded.

Let's find out how to distinguish influenza from SARS, taking into account the advice of doctors. The impact of pneumotropic viruses on the body can be differentiated according to the following criteria:

Flu: the disease is characterized by an acute onset, fever and chills, the patient has a high fever. The infected person complains of myalgia, joint aches and headache. There is a threat of the development of serious complications: pneumonia, stenosis of the larynx, myocarditis, pyelonephritis. Less pronounced catarrhal phenomena in the form of a runny nose, pain, inflammation of the respiratory tract. There is a dry cough with chest pain.
Adenovirus infection: The onset is less severe than with influenza. Angina is often diagnosed, which is accompanied by an enlargement of the lymph nodes. The patient suffers from severe cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, liver damage is possible.
Parainfluenza: general intoxication of the body is moderately pronounced. The patient has a subfebrile temperature, which may slightly increase. The upper respiratory tract is affected, most of the larynx. A common complication of the disease is stenosing laryngotracheitis.
Respiratory syncytial infection: the disease is characterized by a milder, but also more prolonged course than in the case of infection with the flu. There is a predominant lesion of the lower respiratory tract with frequent development of bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiolitis. The main symptom of the disease is a dry, paroxysmal cough that lasts up to 3 weeks.
Coronavirus infection: the disease is characterized by mild intoxication with an inflammatory process in the upper respiratory tract. In children, the bronchi and lungs may be affected. Certain strains are capable of causing damage to the digestive tract, proceeding like gastroenteritis in an acute form.

It can be concluded how to distinguish acute respiratory viral infections of various etiologies from influenza. In the first case, the patient has a subfebrile temperature, which usually does not rise above 38 ° C. There are pronounced catarrhal phenomena. In the second case, there is a strong fever and general malaise, and sore throat, runny nose and cough recede into the background.

High fever is a sign of flu

Having considered in detail what is the difference between a cold and SARS, and how the influenza virus manifests itself, we emphasize that the prevention of the disease is of paramount importance. To avoid infection, it is recommended to refrain from visiting crowded places during an epidemic, wash hands more often and strengthen immunity.

In this regard, an important condition for the fastest normalization of health is the clarification of the diagnosis.

Influenza is a viral infection, quite often characterized by a severe course and the possibility of developing complications. At the same time, it is most difficult in those cases when the diagnosis was not established in a timely manner, and the patient continued to carry the disease on his legs. This clarification is important even when differential diagnosis with other acute respiratory viral infections, which, like influenza, are caused by viruses, and, therefore, are characterized by similar treatment methods. Moreover, it is important not to miss the flu if differential diagnosis is carried out with respiratory diseases caused by bacteria.

To clarify the diagnosis, it is necessary to determine how the flu differs from the common cold. First of all, the main difference lies in the cause of the development of flu and colds. The causative agent of influenza is a virus transmitted by airborne droplets from an infected patient to a healthy person. With a sufficient concentration in the air, it penetrates deep into the body through the nasopharynx and leads to the development of pathological conditions.

The role of hypothermia

As for the common cold, such a disease does not exist in the ICD. However, this term is widespread not only at the household level, but also among medical professionals... It denotes pathological conditions caused by hypothermia. Infectious agents are not involved in their development.

The reduced immunity of the patient leads to the fact that under the influence of hypothermia, conditionally pathogenic flora is activated, which causes the development of symptoms.

Most often, this effect leads to exacerbation of chronic pharyngitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, laryngitis and bronchitis.

The clinical symptoms of a cold are very similar to those of the flu. However, it is necessary to distinguish the common cold from the flu. First of all, it is necessary to analyze the cause of the development of symptoms, whether hypothermia has taken place. It doesn't have to be frostbite in an ice hole or mountains. We are talking about hypothermia as a result of a cold snap and not enough warm clothing. A common reason colds are wet feet in bad weather.

With strong immunity, such tests are not terrible for the body. Insufficient immunity in this case will manifest itself as symptoms of a cold. In one group of people who find themselves in similar conditions, some will remain completely healthy, while others may end up in a hospital bed.

In cases where there was no hypothermia in the anamnesis in the next 2-3 days, the patient was in a warm office, most likely, there can be no talk of a cold. In favor of the infectious nature of the disease, the presence of colleagues with a cough or a runny nose, or fellow travelers with such symptoms may also testify.

All ARVI, and especially influenza, are highly contagious (infectious) diseases. The presence of a sick employee in the team, after a short time, will lead to an increase in the incidence.

From October to March, there is an annual surge in SARS and influenza. The aggravated epidemiological situation also speaks in favor of the viral nature of the disease. Weather conditions during this period also worsen, the chances of getting hypothermia increase. Consequently, it is more difficult to distinguish a cold from the flu in the fall-winter period. However, catching the flu in May is generally atypical.

Differences in the clinical picture

You can also distinguish the flu from a cold by clinical symptoms. Unlike the common cold, flu has an acute onset.

The patient can even indicate the approximate time when he felt unwell. In this case, it is subjective sensations such as weakness, headache, lack of appetite, chills that come to the fore with the flu. Catarrhal phenomena, dry cough, runny nose join later, sometimes for 2-3 days.

With regard to temperature indicators, hyperthermia develops in the first hours of the disease. Its rise is noted up to 38-39 degrees.

With an exacerbation of pharyngitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis and other manifestations of the common cold, symptoms due to the localization of the process come to the fore. With pharyngitis or tonsillitis, it is sore throat and sore throat, with laryngitis - hoarseness, cough. With bronchitis and tracheitis, a cough is a mandatory symptom. Sinusitis is manifested by nasal congestion, runny nose, headache.

All of these symptoms develop against a background of mild to moderate general malaise. In some cases, patients continue to go about their normal business. As for the temperature factor, hyperthermia is noted at the level of subfebrile numbers, or these pathological conditions proceed against the background of normal temperature.

The patient's life history can also help in the differential diagnosis of influenza and colds. The presence of an existing chronic pathology of the ENT organs or the respiratory tract indicates a possible exacerbation of these diseases at a given time as a result of a provoking factor, such as hypothermia. Of course, this does not exclude the development of influenza when the epidemic situation worsens.

An objective examination by a specialist, ENT doctor or therapist also contributes to the clarification of the diagnosis. If necessary, instrumental examination methods, X-ray examination, bronchoscopy, rhinoscopy can also help. Laboratory diagnostics will be informative only with pronounced changes in the nasopharynx and the respiratory tract. A general blood test, characterized by an increase in ESR and leukocytosis, is characteristic of a bacterial pathogen.

Thus, summing up, you can determine the flu or cold based on

Clarification of the diagnosis is necessary to prescribe the correct treatment. In the case of the manifestations of a cold, most likely, it will be a question of prescribing antibiotics. Treatment of influenza involves detoxification measures, in severe cases - the appointment antiviral drugs... Antibiotics, however, are ineffective.

Consequently, a more accurate diagnosis contributes to the correct treatment and the fastest recovery of the patient.

How to tell the flu from the common cold: symptoms and disease comparisons

To exclude the possibility of a disease or quickly get rid of an already acquired disease, you need to know the enemy by sight.

The flu and the common cold have similar symptoms and manifestations - in some cases it is difficult to distinguish between them. But it is important to distinguish between these infections, otherwise you can be treated with inappropriate medications and even aggravate the course of the disease.

Let's deal with the infections in question:

Flu - acute illness infectious nature. The virus spreads with lightning speed, constantly mutates and periodically announces itself in the form of epidemics.

Cold - a disease caused by hypothermia. It manifests itself as symptoms in the respiratory tract, often develops into more complex forms.

It is clear that influenza is an independent disease with pronounced acute symptoms. Colds - depending on the type and place of localization, can proceed both acutely and sluggishly, but it is dangerous with the occurrence of complications.

Briefly about a cold

A cold is the result of hypothermia. It is especially often caused by hypothermia and wet limbs, when breathing cold air.

The cold develops slowly, affecting the respiratory organs one by one.

The main symptoms are:

Runny nose - irritation and inflammation of the nasal mucosa by infection. Under the influence of infectious microbes, the mucous membrane becomes inflamed, sneezing, itching and swelling of the sinuses appear.

Cough - the body's response to an infection in the respiratory organs. The airways, bronchi are clogged with by-products of the infection (mucus, sputum) - and the body cleans these substances by means of coughing.

Low temperature - with a cold, a slightly increased body temperature (37-37.5 C) is noticed for several days. This is a reaction of immunity to the penetration of infection into the body, a fight is being conducted against hostile microbes.

Cold symptoms often come on slowly and gradually. The first sign is a runny nose and a slight increase in temperature. Then a cough appears, which lasts for several days.

Flu at a glance

Influenza is an acute disease in which there is multiple detachment of the epithelium of the tracheo-bronchial tree.

In history, influenza is known for several outbreaks of epidemics and pandemics.

The virus is transmitted by almost all means of infection and, what is most dangerous, has the ability to mutate.

The main symptoms are:

A sharp rise in temperature - the first and most common symptom is a rise in body temperature to a critical level (39-40 C). The temperature rises in the first hours of the onset of the active phase of malaise - from 3 hours from the virus entering the body.

Muscle pain - possible muscle pain, bone aches, general aches in various parts of the body.

Weakness - high rise temperature indicates a serious resistance to the virus. At the same time, the body weakens - sometimes weakness to the level of dangerous - the patient cannot raise his head.

Various symptoms - migraine, dry throat, small dry cough may appear.

Influenza, in fact, is a more complex cold disease, so the symptoms of these ailments are similar.

Note! The manifestation of symptoms depends on the type of virus - cases of manifestation of only one symptom have been recorded - a sharp rise in temperature.

Moreover, the fever can last up to several days, while other symptoms do not appear. In other cases, the patient experiences complete symptoms: muscle and bone pain, headache, high fever, and others.

Why is it important to distinguish the common cold from the flu?

Unlike the common cold, the flu is a more serious and life-threatening illness.

In percentage terms, the main risk group is children and pensioners - people most susceptible to infection. Their immunity is weakened, which allows the flu to spread easily in the body.

Why is it important to distinguish between infections:

High mortality rate - according to the statistics of medical organizations, up to 500 thousand people die every year from influenza and its variations around the world. During the years of pandemics - more than 1 million (2009 - swine flu pandemic).

Complicated diseases - Serious complications are rare but dangerous. Influenza can suppress immunity and destroy tissue barriers in the body. Of the most dangerous complications: several types of pneumonia, lung abscess, meningitis, liver damage, myocarditis, neuritis and allergic shock.

A sharp onset of symptoms - it is necessary to accurately establish the malaise on early dates and take action, otherwise a sharp manifestation of the virus can quickly cause irreversible consequences.

Today, enough drugs, vaccines have been developed that can fight the flu. The main danger of not determining the type of ailment is the speed of the spread of the virus and the manifestation of its symptoms.

How to tell the flu from a cold

From the above data, it becomes clear that flu and colds have almost the same symptoms. But, their manifestation is different, plus, a number of excellent signs are visible.

How to determine the type of disease:

Penetration of infection - with a cold, the infection spreads slowly and sluggishly, the symptoms are progressive. With the flu, the virus spreads sharply, therefore, the symptoms appear rapidly - literally in a few hours the patient can experience all the signs of the disease.

Initial signs - with a cold, at the initial stages, a runny nose, minimal cough, sore throat, a slight rise in temperature appear. Influenza immediately raises the temperature high, severe intoxication causes body aches and headaches.

Secondary signs - with a cold in the first days of malaise, the strength of the symptoms increases - the sinuses are clogged with secretions, general weakness is felt, and coughing may increase. With the flu, the fever continues to persist, possibly the onset of fever, pain in the eyeballs, chills.

Note! An increase in temperature with a cold occurs in the late afternoon (during the day, a person may feel satisfactory) - with flu, a high temperature lasts almost around the clock.

Cough - with a cold, a slight perspiration begins, which gradually turns into a deep cough. With the flu, the cough appears some time after the illness and may be accompanied by chest pain and profuse sputum.

Sneeze - this symptom applies only to a cold, and appears along with a runny nose. With the flu, sneezing is not noticed.

Headaches - the flu causes severe intoxication, in which headaches are painful and pronounced. Headaches also occur with colds, but not as severe - mainly due to the general overwhelmed state.

Muscle pain - practically does not occur with colds. With the flu - one of the indicative signs. The pain is intense, localized in various parts of the body. Turns and bends are more debilitating.

Pain in the eyeballs - with flu, it begins due to intoxication or an adenovirus infection. The eyes hurt and watery, and after a few days purulent discharge may form. A cold can be manifested by weak and rare eye tracking, reddening of the proteins.

Chills - convulsions occurring in the background elevated temperature... There is a pathology of nerve impulses - as a result, a person twitches and quickly slows down. It is observed mainly in children. Cold infections do not raise the temperature much, so chills are more likely to be related to the flu.

Nausea - this symptom sometimes leads to confusion (poisoning is identified), but nausea occurs with the flu in conditions of intoxication. Colds do not cause nausea if they do occur as a result of other factors.

Weakness - a sign of the two diseases under consideration. In the case of a cold, weakness is not pronounced, more often - after a painful period. With the flu, weakness is local in nature - the person is practically exhausted.

Course of the disease - the cold lasts less and is sluggish. Of the pronounced signs - a deep cough. Influenza and its symptoms are acute.

Recovery - the recovery period in time depends on the person's immunity. The difference during recovery is that with a cold, it often passes quickly without pathologies. Influenza is characterized by a high weakening of the body, which leads to severe weakness and drowsiness during the recovery period.

Using the comparison data, you can accurately determine which infection a person has contracted and take timely measures to recover.

Difference table

Presents a table of differences - a visual aid for comparing symptoms.

Colds and flu are often confused, both with each other and with other diseases (for example, poisoning).

Pay attention immediately to temperature, headaches and muscle pain. Remember the flu is fatal dangerous virusand lost time can cause irreversible complications.

Renat Suleimanovich, what are the main differences between colds, acute respiratory infections, SARS and flu?

Patients often do not see much difference between all these diseases. At the same time, this difference can be very large. By the term ARI we mean acute respiratory diseases, the causative agents of which may be various viruses, bacteria and fungi that enter the body. ARVI is a narrower group of diseases caused exclusively by viruses. Influenza is also a viral infection caused by the influenza virus. The term "cold" often actually hides acute tonsillitis, the same ARVI or ARI. People out of ignorance call all diseases with similar symptoms as the common cold.

Yes, the symptoms of these diseases are quite similar, nevertheless, there are separate signs by which you can distinguish, for example, the flu from a bacterial or other viral infection. Usually, acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections occur in a milder form than the flu and are less often accompanied by complications, provided that they are treated correctly and in a timely manner.

In terms of duration, all these diseases are similar. On average, their symptoms last for 5-7 days, then subside, the patient feels better and begins to recover.

What categories of the population are at risk for these diseases?

First of all, these are persons with a weakened immune system, who are in daily contact with a large number of people. The incidence of influenza and others infectious diseases upper respiratory tract is usually very high in children's groups - kindergartens, schools, institutions of additional education. The likelihood of getting sick is also quite high among the doctors themselves, since we regularly have to see patients and other medical workers, especially during the flu season or acute respiratory infections.

The risk group for contracting colds and the development of their complications in the future includes, undoubtedly, the elderly, people with chronic diseases and pathologies of the body, cancer patients and patients with a positive HIV status.

Renat Suleimanovich, what are the prevailing reasons for acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections and influenza?

The main causative agents of acute respiratory infections are adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, parainfluenza virus, bacteria - streptococcus, pneumococcus. Pathogens are transmitted mainly by airborne droplets, when the air saturated with them is inhaled. Less commonly by alimentary route. In this case, viruses or bacteria get into food, water, or on the skin of the hands. Further, we use these products and water inside, and accordingly we infect ourselves with an infection. With unwashed hands we cook food, touch the dishes, as a result, bacteria and viruses also enter our body, actively multiply in it and cause characteristic symptoms.

The causative agents of ARVI include rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, parainfluenza virus and other non-cellular organisms. These infections are also transmitted more often by airborne droplets, it is quite easy to get infected by being close to the carrier of the virus, using towels, home clothes, dishes alone with him. The patient will excrete viruses into the environment from his body, mainly when sneezing. Therefore, if you are sick, so as not to infect others, I recommend covering your mouth with your hand when sneezing.

The flu is one of the most common infections on earth. Cases of its occurrence are regularly recorded in all countries. The peculiarity of influenza is its ability to spread very quickly among people and occur only during a certain period of time, usually in winter. This disease is caused by the influenza virus, which is transmitted, as in previous cases, by airborne droplets. The cause of infection in this case is being close to the source of the infection, that is, a sick person.

If we talk about symptoms, which signs will be common and which ones will be unique for each of the diseases?

After entering the human body, any infection passes an incubation period, at this point in time the disease does not manifest itself in any way. The incubation period can take from several hours in people with weakened immunity to several days. Only then do the first symptoms appear.

Symptoms common to all upper respiratory tract infections: body malaise, sore throat, weakness, lack of appetite, sore throat, aggravated by swallowing, nasal congestion. The severity of symptoms usually depends on the degree of intoxication of the body. The stronger the infection, the more severe the disease progresses.

It is possible to distinguish influenza from acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections by some signs. Firstly, this infection develops much faster than the others, its first signs are observed already in the first few hours after infection. Secondly, all signs are most pronounced. In severe cases of influenza, nausea, even vomiting, body temperature up to 38 ° C and higher, aching bones and joints are observed. A characteristic symptom of the flu is a rather intense shooting pain in the knuckles.

ARI and ARVI are much easier, with less pronounced signs of intoxication of the body.

Tell us more about the flu - how is it dangerous, what types of this virus exist?

Flu is pretty dangerous infection... Every year, in different countries, cases of death are recorded against the background of this disease or the development of its complications. The likelihood of developing complications, of course, is higher in people with reduced immunity.

First of all, the symptoms of the disease are dangerous for humans. Severe forms of influenza are accompanied by an increase in temperature to 40 ° C and above, which can have the most negative effect on the brain, lead to irreversible changes in various body systems.

Most dangerous complication flu is pneumonia. It is as a result of pneumonia against the background of this infection that most often death occurs. This type of pneumonia develops quickly and is difficult to treat. In addition, the influenza virus can easily penetrate into various organs with blood flow and cause inflammation in them. Meningitis, pericarditis, and myocarditis are not uncommon complications. This infection poses a great danger to people with kidney disease. For example, pyelonephritis. The disease aggravates the existing pathology and leads to irreversible processes in the kidneys themselves.

As you know, the influenza virus has the ability to change and mutate. In total, this virus is divided into three main types: A, B and C. The most dangerous type is influenza A, which is prone to various mutations and rapid spread. The human body has practically no protection against such an infection.

Influenza type B occurs every 5 years. Having recovered from this disease, we acquire a special immunity to it, capable of protecting our body from re-infection for several years. Influenza type C is the rarest form of the disease, and it mainly affects the elderly and children.

Renat Suleimanovich, now let's talk about the more common ARVI and ARI. There is an opinion that they are not dangerous at all, they can even be carried "on your feet."

The danger of most upper respiratory tract infections is their ability to become chronic over time. Incorrect behavior at the very beginning of the development of the disease, refusal of treatment lead to the fact that the infection is not completely eliminated from the body, but goes deep inside, provoking inflammatory processes. These processes can be absolutely asymptomatic and remind of themselves in the event of even a slight decrease in immunity. As soon as you get your feet wet or get caught in the rain, the characteristic symptoms of a cold immediately appear: sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, malaise.

As I said, the causative agents of acute respiratory infections are various bacteria and viruses. Such microorganisms are ways to exert a negative effect primarily on the organs of the cardiovascular system. It has long been proven that people who try to survive such diseases "on their feet" in the future are more susceptible to various pathologies of the heart, primarily myocarditis and pericarditis.

Untreated or completely neglected ARVIs often cause sluggish ongoing inflammatory processes in the nose, oral cavity and lungs. Therefore, in no case do I recommend taking the symptoms of these diseases for granted. At their first manifestations, you need to give up work, stay in bed as much as possible, get treated and it is best to visit a specialist.

Which treatment measures should be used first? What helps most effectively?

The infection is localized, as a rule, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe nasopharynx, so at its first symptoms - pain and sore throat, I recommend starting gargling with an antiseptic. For this purpose, you can use tools such as Hexoral. Currently, in the treatment of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections, preparations are widely used in the form of sprays, tablets for resorption, and solutions for inhalation. I advise you to use solutions for gargling for several reasons. First, they are most effective because they contain the highest amount of the drug. Secondly, rinsing allows you to remove pathogens and products of their vital activity from the oral cavity.

Gargle at the first sign of colds regularly, several times a day, in accordance with the instructions for the selected drug.

Immediately, if there is a suspicion of the presence of ARVI or influenza, it is necessary to start taking medications that stimulate the production of interferon in the body. For example, Amiksin or Cycloferon. Taking such drugs helps to reduce the period of the disease in half, helps the body to fight the infection on its own.

You should not take antipyretics at the first signs of acute respiratory infections and flu, even if you have a temperature. This symptom usually indicates that the body is actively producing antibodies and is trying to fight the infection. You need to start taking antipyretic drugs on the third day of the disease if the temperature rises above 38 ° C.

At the initial stage of the development of the disease, these measures will be sufficient. In addition, I did not remind you that it is imperative to observe bed rest, eat regularly, and, if possible, avoid stress and emotional stress on the body.

Can you recommend any specific medicines to our readers?

A special medicine for flu and colds includes drugs that have anti-inflammatory effects. For example, Rinzu, Coldakt. The first drug contains paracetamol, a substance that has anti-inflammatory and mild analgesic effects on the body. You can take Paracetamol if you are intolerant to salicylic acid.

To the list of required drugs with flu and ARVI, antivirals must be included: Ingavirin, Grippferon, Antigrippin. With pronounced symptoms of the disease, you can take powders for flu and colds - Teraflu, Maxikold, Stopgripan. Their therapeutic course lasts no more than 6 days. If during these 6 days there is no improvement in the patient's well-being, you should definitely contact a medical institution.

In the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, non-steroidal drugs are also actively used - Ibuprofen and Diclofenac, antihistamines - for people with a tendency to frequent, antitussives that have a thinning phlegm and expectorant effect. Acceptance of these funds must be prescribed by a doctor.

Concerning antibacterial drugs, they are also appointed by a specialist if there is evidence. Antibiotics for influenza and acute respiratory viral infections are used only if a bacterial infection is attached to the disease. In other cases, such funds are completely useless. Viral infections we do not cure antibiotics.

What are the possible complications from these diseases?

Today I have already touched on this issue, I will briefly repeat that, first of all, upper respiratory tract infections have a negative effect on the organs of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Inflammatory processescaused by bacteria and viruses from the throat easily enter the lungs, causing bronchitis and pneumonia. The most dangerous disease is bilateral pneumonia, which affects both lungs at once and is often fatal. The greatest danger of pneumonia is for children and people with weakened immunity.

Frequent colds contribute to the development of chronic heart pathologies - pericarditis, in which there is inflammation of the membrane covering the organ, myocarditis, which affects the myocardium - the main heart muscle, and heart failure. Severe forms of influenza pose a danger to the brain, since they can provoke such serious diseases as hemorrhagic encephalitis and meningitis, which can lead to death if left untreated.

In persons with weakened immunity, influenza and acute respiratory infections cause severe intoxication of the body, accompanied by strong rise body temperature, which in itself can cause death.

Often our readers tell us that they treat both acute respiratory infections and flu - on their own, without going to the clinic. What do you think of this treatment?

I believe this treatment is only permissible in extreme cases. It is still necessary to contact a specialist, at least to establish an accurate diagnosis and determine the causative agent of the disease. Until a diagnosis is made, you do not know whether to take antiviral or antibacterial drugs.

A mandatory visit to a doctor is necessary if the patient has chronic diseases of the body or his age exceeds 60 years. This category of people most often has complications associated with influenza and acute respiratory infections.

Renat Suleimanovich, at the end of the conversation, tell us about the methods of prevention

Prevention of influenza and ARVI can be primary and secondary. Primary prevention means proper nutrition, strengthening your own immunity, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Secondary prevention is aimed at eliminating the possibility of illness during the period of the greatest spread of these infections, that is, in late autumn - winter. It includes taking such antiviral drugs as Ingavirin, Arbidol, Rimantadin. These drugs should be taken for both prophylactic and therapeutic purposes.

Particular attention should be paid to your health if someone from your family has already got the flu or acute respiratory infections. If possible, he should be protected from contact with children and elderly relatives. In the house where the patient is located, wet cleaning should be carried out as often as possible. You can also start taking an antiviral drug.

There is a special vaccine that allows the human body to form a short-term immunity to the influenza virus. This vaccine allows you to either not get sick during the height of the flu season, or to transfer the disease in a mild form and avoid its serious health consequences. You can get a flu shot at your local health center or at any health center that provides such a service.