Prevention of influenza and ARVI
Prevention of influenza and ARVI is a set of measures aimed at preventing infection of the human body with viruses that cause disease. Preventive methods of protection are divided into specific and non-specific.
Specific prevention of influenza and ARVI is the annual administration of the vaccine to the population. Due to the fact that viruses are prone to mosaicism, the vaccine is adjusted annually. According to data provided by WHO, it was thanks to mass vaccine prevention that the intensity of influenza epidemics around the world was reduced. The modern vaccine is able to protect about 80% of both adults and children from influenza.
Non-specific prevention of influenza and ARVI is a set of general measures, including: airing the room, good nutrition, using masks, washing hands, taking medications that affect the influenza virus, etc.
Specific prevention of influenza and ARVI
Vaccination will be considered effective in the fight against influenza only if 50% of the country's population or more will receive it. Currently, more than 20 different vaccines of 4 generations have been registered in the Russian Federation.
Each vaccine is made from those strains of the virus that will be relevant in the coming year during epidemics.
The classification of influenza vaccines is as follows:
- First generation vaccines can be live or inactivated. An example of a live influenza vaccine is Ultravac; its use in modern medical practice is limited. The first generation inactivated non-living vaccine is Grippovac. Live vaccines are sprayed into a person's nasal cavity and form long-term immunity. However, their significant disadvantage is that they generate a large percentage of adverse reactions.
- The second generation vaccines are the so-called split vaccines. They contain destroyed particles of the virus with its surface and internal proteins. These are such vaccines as: Fluarix, Vaxigripp, Begrivac, Fluvaxin. There is also a high likelihood of side effects with these vaccines.
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Third generation vaccines contain only highly purified surface proteins of the virus. They meet modern medical requirements regarding the safety of vaccinations among the population. Examples of such vaccines are Influvac and Agrippal S1.
- The fourth generation vaccines contain Polyoxidonium in addition to highly purified surface proteins. These are such vaccines as: Grippol and Grippol plus. They not only protect against influenza, but also help to increase the body's immune forces due to the immunomodulator included in their composition. This vaccine is well tolerated not only by adults but also by children.
The most effective and safe vaccines are considered to be the third and fourth generation flu vaccines. They practically do not cause side effects, but their disadvantage is considered to be less efficiency compared to live vaccines. In addition, the vaccine cannot guarantee that a person will not get the flu. It only protects against strains of the virus that are expected to be the most common during the upcoming epidemic.
In addition, the introduction of the vaccine allows:
- Reduce the incidence of influenza;
- Reduce the number and strength of side effects in the event that the infection does occur;
- Accelerate recovery, ease the course of the disease;
- Reduce deaths from influenza.
It has been proven that carrying out mass specific prophylaxis of influenza and SARS has a positive effect on the quality of life, contributes to the creation of an immune layer of the population in a particular territory.
The following social groups face a particular need for vaccine administration:
- Elderly people;
- Children of preschool and school age;
- Workers in educational, medical, trade and other fields;
- Pregnant women;
- People with weakened immunity, with chronic diseases.
As a rule, modern vaccines do not cause side effects, although some soreness at the injection site of the vaccine, hyperemia of this area of the skin, fever, runny nose, weakness, and allergic reactions are possible.
It is mandatory to refrain from vaccination for the following categories of citizens:
- People during the acute stage of influenza or ARVI illness;
- People who have had the flu (no earlier than 3 months after infection);
- Children under the age of six months;
- People with individual intolerance to the components that make up the vaccine;
- People with an increase in body temperature above 37 ° C, regardless of the reason that caused it;
- People with blood diseases.
Non-specific prevention of influenza and ARVI
Non-specific prevention of influenza and ARVI boils down to increasing the body's resistance to viruses and preventing it from entering the body.
There are the following practical guidelines to follow to protect yourself from infection:
- Maintaining optimal parameters of air temperature and humidity in rooms with a large crowd of people.
- Regular ventilation of the premises.
- Walks in the open air.
- Good nutrition. Food should provide the necessary intake of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins.
- Adequate drinking regimen allows you to replenish the body's reserves of fluid and moisturize the mucous membranes. It has been proven that it is much easier for viruses to penetrate the epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract when they are dry and have microcracks on them.
- Physical activity, which includes daily sports.
- Full rest. First of all, it is healthy sleep. To maintain the functioning of the immune system, you should sleep at least 8 hours a day.
- Maintaining cleanliness in the room, daily wet cleaning with minimal use of household chemicals.
- Introduction of a mask regime during epidemics of flu and colds. The mask should not be touched with your hands after it is attached to the face. Its reuse is unacceptable.
- Avoiding crowded places.
- Thorough hand washing after visiting public places. Until this moment, you should not touch your face, lips, nose.
- In terms of hygiene, attention should be paid not only to the hands, but also to the nasal passages. A nasal toilet should be done after each visit to a public place. For this, special solutions and sprays based on seawater are suitable, as well as ordinary saline solution. In addition to this procedure, you can gargle with a baking soda and salt solution.
- During a conversation, you should keep a distance of at least one meter from the interlocutor.
- In the premises of medical institutions, in classrooms, in kindergarten groups, in universities, it is advisable to use ultraviolet lamps.
The rules for nonspecific prevention of influenza and ARVI exist not only for healthy people, but also for those who are already sick.
They need to adhere to the following recommendations:
- You should observe bed rest, refuse to visit any public places. At the first symptoms of the disease, it is important to call a doctor at home.
- You should stay as far away from healthy people as possible and use a mask during forced contact.
- The patient should be in a separate room, which requires regular wet cleaning and ventilation.
- Cover your mouth with an individual handkerchief when coughing and sneezing to prevent long-distance spread of the virus.
- Disposable maxi should be used no more than 2 hours, and after this time they must be disposed of.
- After each contact with respiratory secretions, hands should be treated with an antiseptic gel or thoroughly washed with soap.
- All people in contact with a sick person must be monitored for one week.
Special attention should be paid to various drugs, immunostimulants and antiviral agents, which are often recommended to be taken in order to increase the body's immune forces and to fight the virus. Before you start taking this or that remedy, it is worth remembering that there are a huge number of pacifiers on sale, the effect of which has not been confirmed by scientific research. Such funds do not have any preventive effect and are created with the aim of enriching pharmaceutical companies.
Before you go to the pharmacy for the purchase of an antiviral or immunostimulating agent, you must consult with your doctor and clarify the need for taking it.
To date, antiviral drugs with varying degrees of proven effectiveness are: Cycloferon, Kagocel, Lavomax (Tiloron, Amiksin), Tsitovir 3, Arbidol, Ingavirin.
For the treatment of flu and colds, the following drugs with proven efficacy can be used: Remantadine (Orvirem, Remantadin), Relenza, Tamiflu, Peramivir.
In addition, there are interferon preparations, which contain proteins that seem to warn the cages about the danger and make them activate. Interferon preparations are Kipferon, Viferon, Intron, Reaferon, Cycloferon.
The need to take synthetic vitamins to prevent flu and colds is also questionable. It is desirable that a person obtain them from food, however, if this is not possible, then synthetic B vitamins, ascorbic acid, vitamin A should be taken.
Prevention of influenza and ARVI is the key to maintaining health even during an epidemic. The main thing is to approach this matter with all responsibility and not forget about simple rules that allow you to protect yourself and loved ones from infection.
Author of the article: Alekseeva Maria Yurievna | Therapist
Education: From 2010 to 2016 Practitioner of the therapeutic hospital of the central medical-sanitary unit No. 21, city of elektrostal. Since 2016 she has been working in the diagnostic center No. 3.
