What is ARVI and how to treat the disease

ARI is the most common disease in our country: during an epidemic, approximately 20% of Russians suffer from it ¹ . In cold seasons, people spend less time outdoors and travel more often by public transport, so the risk of infection increases. However, bacteria and viruses are active at any time of the year, so it is useful to know the methods of treating and preventing colds.

What is ARVI?

Strictly speaking, ARVI (acute respiratory viral infections) is a whole group of diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract. The cause of ARVI is viruses that enter the human body through airborne droplets or contact ² .

The disease is caused by more than 200 types of viruses ³ . Some statistics on pathogens:

• reoviruses and rhinoviruses – 30-50% of the total incidence;
• coronaviruses – 10-15%;
• influenza A, B or C – 5-15%;
• parainfluenza – 5%;
• syncytial virus serotypes – 5%;
• enteroviruses – <5%;
• adenoviruses – <1%;
• bocaviruses and metapneumoviruses – <1%

In 20–30% of cases, the pathogen cannot be identified, and in approximately 5% of patients, two or more viruses are detected at once ^7,8 .

ARVI is often confused with ARI (acute respiratory diseases). But ARI is a broader concept. It is a whole complex of diseases, which includes ARVI. In addition to viruses, ARI can be caused by bacteria, fungi and other protozoa.

Statistics on ARVI ⁵

ARVI are the leading infectious diseases. In our country, more than 30 million people are exposed to acute respiratory infections and flu every year. Adults suffer from 2-4 cold episodes per year, children, as a rule, get sick more often – up to 9, and sometimes 12-15 times per year. A decrease in morbidity is observed only in the summer.

ARVI accounts for up to 80% of asthma exacerbations, up to 60% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases, and up to 50% of community-acquired pneumonia episodes. Total mortality due to acute respiratory infections is almost 4 million deaths worldwide annually.

How is ARVI transmitted?

The virus enters the body through airborne droplets. When an infected person sneezes, coughs, talks, the virus settles in the air. Even the smallest invisible particles of saliva contain a large amount of infection.

ARVIs are also transmitted through contact with the virus in the environment. Sources of infection can be various surfaces (door handles, handrails in transport) or dirty hands.

The infection is spread not only by carriers with pronounced symptoms, but also by those who are asymptomatic.

Who is susceptible to ARVI?

However, anyone can become infected , especially during periods of decreased immunity due to stress, hypothermia, overheating, other illnesses, and vitamin deficiency.

Signs of ARVI

Symptoms of ARVI:

• sore throat;
• high temperature;
• headache;
• weakness, drowsiness;
• cough, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes;
• heaviness in the chest;
• sweating;
• body aches.

With some types of infections, the lymph nodes become inflamed, conjunctivitis develops, rashes appear (especially against the background of high temperature, when sweat ducts become clogged), and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted.

With most acute respiratory viral infections, the patient’s body temperature does not exceed 38.5 °C and returns to normal within 2–3 days. The exception is influenza, in which the temperature can rise to 40 °C and remain at approximately the same level for more than three days ² .

How many days do ARVI symptoms last ^3.7

The duration of ARVI depends on the severity of the disease and the type of infectious agent. Mild forms of flu last 5-7 days, rhinovirus infection – 3-5 days. Moderate forms can last 7-14 days, and severe forms last several weeks.

First, the symptoms of intoxication weaken and pass, then catarrhal phenomena – runny nose and cough. Fever, headache and muscle pain with mild ARVI persist for 1-3 days, with more severe forms – 5-7 days and longer. Cough and runny nose last from 3-7 days to several weeks.

Diagnostics of ARVI

Usually, the diagnosis is made based on the patient’s symptoms and complaints. In mild cases, laboratory tests are not prescribed, and in other cases, urine and blood tests, a nasopharyngeal swab, and fluorography are taken.

As a rule, doctors do not determine the specific type of virus. The exception is influenza. It differs from the others in that it is accompanied by pronounced symptoms and a high temperature of 38–40 °C ⁵ .

In any case, only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis. Self-diagnosis of ARVI leads to errors in treatment and the development of complications.

Treatment of ARVI

Usually, ARVI is treated at home under the supervision of a doctor. Hospitalization is required only in severe cases, serious complications, and accompanying exacerbations – for example, heart problems due to high temperature.

Therapy for ARVI includes:

Antibiotics for ARVI are prescribed if a bacterial infection joins the virus. Do not try to select medications on your own. This may lead to the development of an allergic reaction or worsen your health.

In addition, doctors recommend that patients drink about two liters of fluid per day, including warm drinks:

• tea and herbal infusions;
• chicken or vegetable broths;
• fruit drinks and juices rich in vitamin C.

Drinking plenty of warm fluids will help relieve symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections, cope with intoxication and prevent dehydration.

Dangerous Delusions

There are many dangerous myths surrounding the treatment of ARVI. The most famous of them are:

• After recovery, immunity is developed, so it is impossible to get infected again. This is not true. Antibodies are developed only to one type of pathogen, and there are more than 200 of them. In addition, viruses mutate so quickly that the immune system does not have time to adapt to new strains.
• It is useful to “breathe over potatoes”. This is a well-known method of warming up in folk medicine, which is inferior in effectiveness to modern inhalers. In addition, heat provokes the proliferation of microbes, so this can lead to the development of an acute bacterial infection, provoke a jump in pressure due to the expansion of blood vessels, and cause swelling of the mucous membrane. It is strictly forbidden to use this method at elevated temperatures.
• Pharmaceutical drops can easily be replaced with homemade decoctions and juices. For example, you shouldn’t put onion juice in your nose – this can lead to a burn of the mucous membranes. All such remedies have no proven effectiveness and disrupt the microflora of the already damaged mucous membrane.
• You need to drink alcohol to “disinfect”. Alcohol-containing drinks do not have an antiviral effect and do not help with ARVI. On the contrary, they can worsen the patient’s condition and increase the risk of intoxication.

When to see a doctor for ARVI ¹¹

Possible complications

Respiratory viral infections themselves are not dangerous if the immune system is not suppressed in any way and the patient consults a doctor in time. However, according to WHO estimates, about 3.9 million people die each year from complications of respiratory viral infections ¹² .

Severe viral diseases disrupt the functioning of internal organs. Bacterial infections against the background of ARVI can worsen and affect not only the respiratory tract, but also any other body systems. The main sign of complications is a prolonged high temperature (longer than a week). It indicates the development of inflammatory processes in the body.

Due to the severe course, such dangerous conditions as acute cardiovascular or respiratory failure, cerebral edema, meningismus (irritation of the meninges), and infectious toxic shock are possible ¹³ .

The most common complications of a viral infection are:

• Bronchitis. Develops when pathogenic microorganisms from the upper respiratory tract enter the bronchi. In this case,wet cough, difficulty breathing and chest pain are added to the symptoms of the disease.
• Pneumonia. This is an inflammation of the lung tissue. Pneumonia often requires hospitalization. Due to the severe course of the disease, the recovery period is significantly delayed.
• Sinusitis and maxillary sinusitis. These are diseases of the nose, in which the mucous membrane and sinuses become inflamed. The main symptoms are profuse nasal discharge, congestion, headache (in the forehead).
• Otitis. The eardrum or middle ear becomes inflamed. Accompanied by pain, which is also called “ear shooting pain”.

Other possible exacerbations: myocarditis – damage to the muscular membrane of the heart, pyelonephritis – kidney disease, and meningitis – inflammation of the membranes of the brain.

If you suspect any complications, consult a doctor immediately!

Prevention ¹⁰

Take preventive measures to avoid infection or, at least, to alleviate the course of ARVI:

• During the period of virus activity (from October to March), do not visit public places and avoid crowds. If you cannot reduce contacts, maintain a social distance of 1.5–2 meters, wear a mask and wash your hands more often.
• Include more vegetables and fruits in your diet, reduce alcohol consumption. Immunity depends on your diet. By the way, excess weight can also complicate the course of ARVI, as it further increases the load on blood vessels and the respiratory system.
• Get enough sleep. The body needs about eight hours of sleep a day to recover. Its lack leads to stress, which is detrimental to the immune system.
• Maintain optimal humidity in your apartment (40–60%), spend time outdoors and exercise. This is important for maintaining healthy respiratory organs.
• Get vaccinated against flu and other infections (unless there are contraindications, which you should consult with your doctor about). It is better to get vaccinated at the end of summer or beginning of autumn, before the onset of cold season. 

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