Warm milk for a child's cough. Why is honey with milk used for coughs? How does a milk-honey mixture help with a cold? Dosage, contraindications

Good day, dear readers. Surely everyone knows what a cold is and why it occurs. If you start to deal with the signs of the disease at the first stage, you can avoid the development serious complications.

But unfortunately, not everyone knows what to do at the first sign of a cold, which is what we will talk about below.

Some symptoms of a cold may be the result of the development of a completely different disease, which is why you first need to make sure that you really have the flu, and not something else.

Symptoms of manifestation will depend primarily on which organ has captured the inflammatory process. For example, husky voice will indicate the development of laryngitis, dryness and congestion in the nose - a sign of rhinitis.

However, there are those symptoms that are specific to the common cold, and they begin to appear long before the inflammatory process occurs. Can be distinguished common features disease development:

1. Feet and hands will be cold.
2. Body temperature rises.
3. Aches are felt all over the body, the condition is weakened.
4. Pain in the head.

Having recognized all these symptoms, in no case should you postpone treatment, otherwise your condition will only worsen.

What to do

Can be distinguished whole complex measures to be taken first:

• You need to be at rest. When you have a cold, you need to lie down as much as possible.
• Control your body temperature. As soon as the mark on the thermometer exceeds 38, this indicates that there is an infection and the body is fighting it.
• Try not to overcool. It is impossible to freeze at the time of a cold, especially for the legs. If there is no temperature, you can take a warm bath.
• Drink as much liquid as possible. Even if you can’t drink, you need to do it through force. Vitamin C drinks are helpful.
• Watch your diet. At this moment, you need to listen to your body more than ever, and eat only what it asks for. Avoid overly heavy foods.

After favorable conditions created for the body, you need to move on to treatment.

Read more on the topic:

What to take

What to take at the first sign of a cold? In order to remove the first symptoms of such an unpleasant ailment, you can use the tips below:

Get rid of the temperature

Folk remedies for colds are considered the most effective, especially if you need to bring down the temperature:

1. With an increase in body temperature, you need to rub the patient's body with a solution of vinegar (3%). Pre-dilute it with ordinary vodka in a ratio of 1: 1.
2. The most common natural antiseptic is tea with raspberries or sea buckthorn.
3. If the mark on the thermometer is above 38.5, you can drink aspirin.

How to strengthen immunity

In order to raise defensive forces your body, you need to take the following actions:

1. As mentioned above, eat more fruits with vitamin C.
2. Help will come folk remedies- honey, garlic, lemon.
3. Medications, such as rhinitis.

Measures against infection

The following can have an anti-inflammatory effect on the patient's body:

• Mustard - before going to bed, put dry mustard in your socks and put them on.
• Chicken broth - drink up to 200 grams of broth per day.
• Honey is a good antimicrobial agent.

How to heal a throat

With a cold, there is always a cough, and because of it, bronchitis and other more serious illness. In order to avoid all this, you can take measures such as:

1. Gargle your throat. To do this, you can use a soda solution or a solution of furacilin.
2. Resorption. You can soften your throat with special lollipops, which are sold in a pharmacy - Faringosept, Lizobakt.
3. Warm up. Rub back and chest with menthol balm

It is important to know not only how to quickly recover from a cold, but also how to do it correctly. So, for example, at high temperatures you can not warm yourself and rub yourself with vodka. By avoiding such mistakes, you can speed up the recovery process several times over.

In the period from autumn to spring, up to 90% of people carry a cold. Some - several times a season. Cold symptoms seem so familiar that most of us visit the clinic only in the very last resort when conventional treatments are not effective.

Meanwhile, often people who practice self-medication do not take the medicines that are necessary. As a result, complications may occur. Wrong treatment, in turn, leads to chronic respiratory diseases.

In contact with

First sign of a cold

Any cold in humans is caused by viruses. Pathogens penetrate us:

• With inhaled air;
• directly upon contact of the oral mucosa with infected dishes, with fingers, with kisses, etc.

Thus, the first place where the virus enters is the nasopharyngeal mucosa. local immunity nasopharynx reacts with an increase in secretion, redness, swelling.

The very first sign of a cold is a sore throat and tickling in the nose.

No need to wait for other signs to appear. They will almost certainly show up within the next few hours. But any treatment is always better to start early.

Colds and fever

Many believe that a cold must certainly be accompanied by a rise in temperature. This is a big misconception, leading to the fact that treatment starts late. Or it does not start at all - "it will pass by itself."

An increase in temperature is the basic mechanism of protection against a microbial-viral threat. At temperatures above 38.5 0C pathogens slow down their reproduction.

However, an adult very often has a cold without fever, because. his body is "familiar" with cold viruses and does not see them as a serious threat to health.

Vice versa, children's body is facing many microbiological threats for the first time. Therefore, the reaction is always very violent: fever appears in response to any viral or bacterial danger and comes literally instantly.

Thus, a cold without fever in an adult - frequent occurrence. Absence elevated temperature does not mean that the medicine should not be taken.

What medicines to take at the first sign of a cold

There are many respiratory viruses. All of them, getting into the body, secrete special substances that depress the immune system. Then they penetrate our healthy cells, in which they begin their own replication. The process is developing rapidly, exponentially.

What to take at the first sign of a cold to stop virus attack(optional):

• Cycloferon;
• Lavomax;
• Kagocel;
• Anaferon;
• Ergoferon;
• Ingavirin;
• Arbidol.

These drugs stimulate the immune system, making it insensitive to the inhibitory effects of viruses. As a result, virus replication slows down.

Which drug to choose

By the nature of their impact, they are immunomodulatory agents. Some of them have an additional effect, for example:

• Ergoferon - relieves irritation of the mucous membrane;
• Arbidol - affects the specific surface protein of the virus, preventing its fusion with cells;
• Ingavirin - slows down the rate of virus migration in the affected cells.

Arbidol and Ingavirin are the most effective medicines at the first sign of a cold, because they not only stimulate the response immune system, but also help her by acting directly on the virus.

At the same time, these drugs are also the most expensive: a 7-day course of treatment will cost 800 and 500 rubles, respectively.

If you are looking for what to take with signs of a cold in the budget segment, then the best option there will be Anaferon. Its cost is from 200 to 250 rubles. for a weekly course.

If the convenience of taking the drug is important to you, then you should opt for Ingavirin: you will need to take only 1 capsule per day without relationship with food intake.

What medicines should you avoid

At the first symptoms of a cold in adults, you should not take:

• antipyretic;

Antipyretics are widely represented by drugs based on paracetamol - Rinicold, Influnet, Fervex and many others. Many people think that they should be taken at a temperature. This is partly true: if you have a body temperature of more than 38.5 0C, you can use these remedies to relieve symptoms. However, you need to understand that such a “knocking down” of temperature makes it difficult to recognize an incipient bacterial infection.

At the first sign of a cold, it is useless and harmful to take any antibiotics.

At the first symptoms of a cold in children

In order to know what to give a child with a cold, you need to understand the specifics of the development of the viral process in children:

1. Those first symptoms that parents see are far from the first:

• Cough;
• runny nose;
• heat.

All these symptoms indicate significant "successes" of the virus. Possibly - and bacterial infection.

1. The signs of a cold in children are always maximally pronounced, and the dynamics of the disease are sharp.

Treatment at the first sign of a cold in a child begins, as in adults, with antiviral immunostimulating drugs.

The sharp dynamics of the course of the disease requires careful monitoring of the child's condition. In a few hours, well-being can deteriorate significantly, and a bacterial infection can cause complications such as, or.

With continued deterioration of the condition, non-falling temperature, it is required to start immediately: Amoxicillin, Augmentin, or one of their analogues.

What else to do at the first sign of a cold

1. Rinse the nose with a special otolaryngological device.

Since viruses settle in the nasopharynx, rinsing with salt water contributes to mechanical removal them from the mucosa. If the nose "does not breathe", vasodilating drops are instilled before washing (Sanorin, Tizin, etc.), and then washing is done.

1. Use antiseptic drops or sprays.

After washing in the nose, they instill or spray (optional), Pinosol. Sprays can be sprayed into the throat.

1. If the cold is without fever, warming the legs has a positive effect.

Best for overnight hot water. Then put on warm socks and go to bed.

1. Drink hot tea with honey.

At the first symptoms of a cold, you need to drink more fluids. The addition of honey has a positive effect on immunity and well-being.

What mistakes in the treatment of a cold can lead to complications is described in the video

When you already know in general terms what is a cold, and what are the causes of its occurrence - we will describe its symptoms in more detail.

The main signs and symptoms of a cold

The signs of a cold are similar to and, but their main difference is the absence of too high a temperature and heat, and the whole symptomatic picture does not proceed in such acute form as diseases of viral origin (influenza, SARS). Let's look at the symptoms of colds in more detail:

1. 1. Chills
   In view of the fact that a cold is associated primarily with hypothermia, the first sign colds there will be chills. The patient cannot warm up, trembles, freezes, and it can also be felt as if the body inside is very hot.
2. 
   The next symptom of the manifestation of a cold, which is both a consequence of freezing and a consequence of the attack of pathogenic microbes, is a runny nose. Runny nose - a consequence inflammatory process in the body, while the introduction may be a tingling sensation.
3. 4. Elevated temperature
   With a cold, the patient sometimes has an increase in temperature, usually up to 37-37.5 ° C. Up to 38 ° C, as with a viral disease, the temperature does not rise during a cold, and by and large this is one of its distinguishing factors from diseases of this type. It is very important to note that the symptoms of a cold without fever can also be observed, that is, a high temperature with a cold may not be present.
4. 5. Weakness
   Another sign of a cold is general malaise, weakness, reduced efficiency and other signs of a similar nature.
5. 6. Cough
   As another possible symptom can also be called a cough.
6. 7. Reduced Appetite
   Against the background of the entire symptomatic picture, the patient may experience a decrease in appetite.

That's actually all the signs of how a cold manifests itself. The symptoms of a cold in children are similar to those of a cold in adults.

Based on these symptoms, you may suspect that you have a cold. At the same time, you must understand that a number of factors that we described in the main article can precede a cold. If you get sick during an epidemic viral disease, then there is Great chance the fact that you fell ill with an “epidemiological disease”, and not a cold. In any case, if the patient does not improve on the 4th day and full recovery on the 7th, it is imperative to consult a doctor.

In general, very often many of us treat a cold at home without calling a doctor. This is due to the fact that the symptoms of a cold are not so complicated and do not occur in an acute form, so they can be quickly dealt with at home, with right approach to treatment, and the cold itself passes quickly. However, young children and pregnant girls, even at the first manifestation of cold symptoms, need to call a doctor. In other cases, you can treat yourself, but again we emphasize that you need to know how to treat, and do it right. Further, we recommend that you read the article dedicated to

The cold is pathological condition organism in children and adults, which most often consists of two moments. First, the impact of pathogenic viruses. Secondly, hypothermia of the body.

At the first signs of a cold, as soon as you feel that you are getting sick, you should begin adequate treatment. This will not only help stop the disease, but also avoid possible complications.

Remember, timeliness is the most important factor in such situation. That is, we are faced with the task of recognizing initial stage cold disease.

How not to miss the onset of the disease?

In order to start treating yourself and your loved ones at the first symptoms of a cold, you need to know these manifestations of the disease. So, the first signs that a person is getting sick are:

• runny nose and nasal congestion;
• cold hands and feet;
• the patient is shivering, he cannot get warm;
• body temperature may rise;
• there is a feeling of weakness;
• some have a headache.

It should be understood that with the onset of a cold, the reaction of the body in different people may also differ. Thus, one should not draw unambiguous conclusions and expect the presence of all of the listed symptoms. Remember, the reaction of the body of each person when he falls ill with a cold is individual. However, most often almost all of the listed symptoms occur.

So, as soon as you notice such symptoms, you should immediately proceed to treatment. If the patient is not treated on time, then it will not be possible to stop the cold at the very beginning.

First aid for colds

If you feel like you're starting to get a cold, there are two things you definitely shouldn't do. First, there is no need to panic. Secondly, you should not try to drink all the cold medicines that are in your house. Such actions will not help anyone to cure.

Instead, at the first sign of a cold, the patient should be given correct mode and follow a few simple guidelines.

1. Upon detection cold symptoms the patient should be put to bed. He needs rest. From this rule follows one more thing that should not be done with a cold. You can not try to move it "on your feet." This is a direct path to complications.
2. The patient needs to warm up. You have to try to deal with the chills. Colds often cause cold feet. In this case, we recommend using a proven remedy and preparing a warming foot bath with mustard. To do this, pour into the basin warm water(40-50 degrees Celsius), pour and stir 3 tablespoons mustard powder. You need to soar your legs for 20-30 minutes. After that, be sure to put on woolen socks.
3. Take your body temperature. This should be done regularly so that if sharp increase take action. Remember, if the temperature is below 38 degrees, then it does not need to be knocked down with medicines. It is better to focus on treating other cold symptoms.
4. Remember, in order to quickly cure a cold, the patient needs to drink a lot of warm and sweet drinks. The choice of such funds is very wide. You can drink tea with honey and lemon, berry juice, diluted warm water blackcurrant jam. The more vitamin C the patient gets along with drinking, the better. It is important to remember that the chosen drink should not be piping hot. Optimum temperature 36-40 degrees. Remember, if you don’t feel like drinking, you need to do it even through force.
5. But you should not force yourself to eat in the absence of appetite. In addition, it is necessary to refrain from fried, spicy, fatty, rough, hot and cold foods.
6. Keep the room optimal temperature regime. To do this, it is enough to ventilate the room 2-3 times a day. This will make the air in the room fresh, cool and humid.

The observance of such a regime creates optimal conditions in order to quickly stop a cold. If you do everything on time and correctly, then there is a chance.

When it was not possible to quickly stop the disease, systematic treatment is necessary.

How to treat the patient?

First of all, we want to say that if you start to get sick with a cold, then it is better to refrain from taking pills and medicines if possible. The fact is that in most cases, colds are caused by viruses. Our body is most often able to cope with them on its own. Our task is only to help him in this. And you can do it without drugs.

Let's see how we are using natural remedies We can help a child or an adult at the first sign of a cold.

Temperature.

In order to bring down the temperature, it is not necessary to treat a sick person with medicines.

Method 1. Rub the patient's body with ordinary vodka (not suitable for children).

Method 2. Drink more tea with raspberry jam.

If the temperature has risen to 38 degrees, then you can drink pharmacological agent containing paracetamol.

Sore throat.

As the main methods to cure the throat, we recommend using gargles and compresses.

Recipe 1. Curd compress. Put a layer of cottage cheese 1-2 cm thick on a piece of gauze and wrap it in several layers of fabric. To prepare a compress, you can not use the product that you just got out of the refrigerator. Cottage cheese should be warm and squeezed. Wrap the compress around your neck and tie a wool scarf over the top.

Recipe 2. soda solution for gargling. Pour 200 ml of warm water at a temperature of 37-40 degrees into a glass. Add 2-3 teaspoons of baking soda to it and stir. Gargle should be 5-7 times a day every 2 hours.

Runny nose.

Rhinitis and nasal congestion can be treated in different ways. We recommend rinsing the nose with saline and isotonic solutions. They can be purchased at any pharmacy or prepared independently at home. To do this, dissolve one fourth teaspoon of salt in a glass of water.

When is a doctor indispensable?

Of course, you should consult a doctor at the very first signs of malaise. However, as practice shows, only a few act in this way. Most people in our country prefer to first try to cure themselves on their own.

However, remember, ideally, at the first sign of a cold, you should see a qualified doctor. Only in this case can one be sure that, following medical advice, you will treat yourself properly.

There are situations in which you need to stop self-treatment and be sure to see a doctor.

1. The patient does not improve on the fourth day of illness.
2. He has any temperature above normal on the sixth day of a cold.
3. Within two days of illness, the patient's health does not improve.

Now we want to bring to your attention a video in which the famous pediatrician O.E. Komarovsky expresses his opinion on the need to see a doctor for a cold.

Colds in adults- is a collection respiratory diseases caused by viruses (ARVI), bacteria (ARI) or, in rare cases, others pathogenic organisms. Among all diseases of adults, the common cold is the leader in terms of attendance at clinics. Depending on the characteristics of the organism, age group and availability concomitant diseases, the incidence can vary dramatically, with most adults getting sick only a few times a year, and the moments of the disease coincide with the onset of seasonal epidemics.

The symptoms of a cold in adults are specific and easy to recognize in the early stages. Usually, weakness, pain in the eyes, difficulty in breathing, and fever first appear. Treatment started as soon as the first symptoms appear will be most effective.

Causes of colds in adults

For the occurrence of a cold, a combination of two factors is necessary: ​​the presence of the causative agent of the disease and the inability of the body to resist it. Many adults consider a cold to be something frivolous, not worthy of attention, and often endure it on their feet. They do not go to doctors and do not think about the consequences that such behavior can lead to. In the meantime, an unreasonable attitude towards one's health leads to disastrous consequences, for example, mortality from a cold can reach 40%, not to mention a huge number of possible complications, which depends on individual characteristics patient and time of visit to the medical facility.

Any catarrhal disease occurs when the natural protective barriers organism. So, frequent colds in adults can be observed with chronic overwork, stress, lack of sleep, sedentary manner life, wrong and irrational nutrition. special role in the formation of immunity addictions such as abuse alcoholic products and smoking. It has been proven that systematic poisoning of the body by these methods leads to a decrease in the production of antibodies to pathogens of colds. On the contrary, healthy lifestyle life allows the body to immediately respond to an external pathogen and immediately begin the production of protective bodies. In a special risk group among the adult population are the elderly, people with chronic diseases, as well as those who have undergone a course of radiation and chemotherapy. The likelihood of illness and the development of serious complications against the background of a cold is extremely high.

More than 90% of all colds are caused by viruses, and only less than 10% are caused by bacteria and other pathogens.

Viruses are non-cellular infectious pathogens that do not have their own organelles and are able to reproduce only through the cells of the host organism. The genetic material of viruses is presented in the form of DNA or RNA, which may look like various structures(double-stranded, single-stranded, ring-shaped, etc.), and it is protected from destruction by a special viral shell - capsid. After connecting with the cell, the virus penetrates into it and, multiplying, leads to a rupture of the cell wall and death of the body cell.

As in all living organisms, the following taxonomic units are distinguished in viruses: order, family, subfamily, genus, species. Exists great amount viruses that cause various diseases, but only a few can be attributed to viruses that cause frequent colds in adults:

- Orthomyxoviruses (influenza viruses);

- Paramyxoviruses (parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus);

- Coronaviruses (respiratory and enteral coronaviruses);

- Picoronoviruses (rhinoviruses, Coxsackie B enteroviruses);

- Adenoviruses;

- Reoviruses (orthoreoviruses);

- Herpesviruses (herpes simplex, Epstein-Barr virus)

Many viruses have the ability to mutate and acquire resistance to factors external environment And medicines. In this case, some antiviral drugs with a cold in adults, they become ineffective and a new medicine has to be selected.

Bacteria are the most widespread group of microorganisms in nature. Almost all bacteria are unicellular and their size ranges from 0.1 to 3 microns, and the shape is spherical, rod-shaped or spiral.

Colds in adults can be caused by either pathogenic bacteria or opportunistic pathogens. The first group includes those bacteria that should not be found in healthy body under no circumstances (pneumococci, meningococci, etc.). Infection with such flora can occur through contact with an infected person, or by contact if personal safety measures are not followed. The second group includes bacteria that constantly live in the body and do not cause any harm to humans ( coli, Staphylococcus aureus and etc.). The danger of the disease may arise in case of weakened immunity or extreme growth of bacteria (for example, with an imbalance of the acid-base composition internal environment), in this case, opportunistic bacteria manifest themselves as aggressors.

The main task in the fight against a bacterial cold infection is the destruction of all developed flora (in the case of pathogenic bacteria), or a decrease in flora to acceptable level(in the case of opportunistic flora), while simultaneously undergoing immunocorrective therapy.

Other pathogens (chlamydia, legionella, etc.). These microorganisms cause specific diseases(, etc.), which are treated with a special group of antibiotics and, strictly speaking, they cannot be attributed to colds, but the clinic that develops with them is very similar to the clinic of flu-like conditions.

The source of infection in almost all cases is a sick person who already has symptoms of a cold, or is still in incubation stage. In this case, there are no symptoms yet, but infection of another person may already occur. In each case, the duration of the period of possible infection depends on the type of causative agent of the common cold. Most often, the maximum contagiousness in the first days of the development of symptoms, the duration of the contagious period ranges from 5 days to 3-4 weeks.

The most common route of transmission of infection is airborne. Even during a normal conversation, a person distinguishes in environment at a distance of about a meter, microscopic droplets of liquid containing the pathogen. When sneezing or coughing, microparticles spread tens of meters around, which is why it is so important to use individual handkerchiefs and masks that prevent the spread of the pathogen.

The second way of transmission of infection is the contact-household route. Settling on various surfaces, bacteria and viruses can remain viable for a long time. Upon contact with objects contaminated with pathogens, viruses and bacteria are transferred first to the hands, and then to the mucous membranes. That is why during periods of epidemics, it is advised to wash your hands as often as possible and try not to touch your face and eyes once again.

Symptoms and signs of a cold in adults

Like any disease, a cold in adults has a number of the following signs, allowing her to suspect:

Temperature. An increase in temperature above 37.0ᵒС is one of the main symptoms of a cold. It is due to the reaction of the body to the penetration of the pathogen and the direct influence of the pathogen itself. Antibodies produced by the human body, as well as toxins of the pathogen and particles of its destroyed shell, begin to act on the tremoreregulation center, or pyrogenic center, located in the hypothalamus. Temperature change consists of three stages:

- Rise in temperature. The entire body system is rebuilt to generate and retain heat. Superficial vessels narrow, the skin becomes pale, perspiration decreases, rhythmic muscle contraction occurs, the so-called shaking or chills. During this period, I want to wrap myself up as warmly as possible and drink hot tea.

— Preservation of temperature. During this period, the temperature reached its maximum. Slight daily fluctuations are possible. Duration given state can vary from 1 day to weeks. At the same time, the vessels of the skin expand, pallor disappears, skin hot, a person experiences a feeling of heat, trembling and chills disappear, there is increased photosensitivity, discomfort in the eyes.

- Decrease in temperature. May occur on its own or when applied medicines, decrease gradually (lytically) or sharply (critically). The body at this stage gives off heat. The vessels dilate, the skin turns red, sweating increases.

Depending on the size of the numbers, the temperature for a cold in adults can be subfebrile (37.1-38.0ᵒС), febrile (38.1-39.0ᵒС), pyretic (39.1-40.0ᵒС), hyperpyretic (above 40 ,0ᵒС).

In order to avoid complications, at a temperature above 38ᵒС, you should start taking antipyretic drugs. An increase in temperature to 40ᵒС and above is an unconditional indication for calling an ambulance or a doctor. This must also be done if the temperature cannot be lowered on its own even at lower figures. The temperature for a cold in adults should decrease gradually, since a critical drop can cause the development formidable complications, such as collapse.

Intoxication. A symptom caused by exposure to organs and tissues of toxins of pathogens or their own substances produced in order to fight infection. Intoxication manifests itself in the form of myalgia (pain in the muscles), weakness, nausea, sleep disturbance.

Nasal congestion and/or runny nose. Difficulty breathing due to swelling of the nasal mucosa can be both an independent symptom (), and a symptom preceding the onset of the development of a runny nose. A runny nose develops due to sweating through the vessels of the liquid part of the blood during vasodilation. Usually, the formation of mucus provokes irritation of the nasal mucosa and appears new symptom colds - sneezing. The nature of nasal discharge directly depends on the pathogen, so, with a viral infection, the discharge is homogeneous, mucous, sometimes slightly whitish, while with a bacterial infection, the discharge can be viscous, up to the formation of crusts, yellowish or greenish in color.

A complication of the inflammatory process in the nasal cavity is the spread to the paranasal sinuses, and then an immediate visit to the doctor becomes mandatory.

Sore and sore throat. Also are frequent symptoms with colds in adults. Their intensity is related to the type of pathogen - when viral infections there may be no pain at all, or they will be mild, with bacterial pain they can be so pronounced that it is difficult to talk and eat. When examining the pharynx, swelling, redness, an increase in the volume of the tonsils, as well as pathological changes and overlays. Small red or burgundy dots on the pharynx may indicate viral nature diseases, imposing in the form of whitish spots on the tonsils - on the bacterial one. Special attention should be given to volumetric or multiple changes, as well as the appearance of hard-to-remove films or painful formations. In these cases, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible!

Cough. It can be dry (without sputum production), unproductive (with heavy discharge of a small amount of sputum) and productive (with good discharge sputum). Dry cough may indicate both the localization of the process only in upper divisions respiratory system, without the involvement of the bronchi, or on the defeat of the bronchi without removing sputum. Only a doctor can understand the degree of damage! That is why when a cough occurs, it is necessary to contact him. The nature of sputum can help in determining the pathogen, so clear mucous discharge is a sign viral infection, yellowish or greenish - bacterial. Improper cough treatment can cause such formidable complications as pneumonia and pleurisy, so do not abuse self-medication!

Eruptions on the skin and mucous membranes. This is a fairly rare symptom, manifested in the form of petechial hemorrhages. Most often, it indicates the viral nature of the disease (flu), but in any case, it is a reason for contacting a medical institution.

Treatment of colds in adults

The treatment of a cold is a complex of measures aimed at both the causative agent of the disease and the symptoms that have developed. Apart from medical preparations a special regime is required. As a rule, the treatment of colds in adults is performed without hospitalization. Only categories of persons with high risks and patients with developed severe complications. If you experience the above symptoms, be sure to consult a doctor! An exception can only be cases with minor symptoms, no fever, without a significant change in the general condition.

The treatment regimen has importance V effective treatment colds. All patients should adhere to bed or semi-bed rest. Nutrition should be balanced, with light and quickly digestible food. It is not recommended to eat fried, spicy and fatty foods during this period. Recommended plentiful warm drink in order to quickly remove toxins, decoctions and slightly alkaline drinks will be useful. Vitamin therapy will also have a positive effect on strengthening a weakened body; it can be used as usual. vitamin remedies(Undevit, Geksavit, etc.) and preparations in combination with microelements (Alfavit, Biomax, etc.).

In the treatment of colds in adults, there are three main areas of therapy: etiotropic (fights directly against the causative agent of the disease), pathogenetic (affects protective functions body) and symptomatic (combats the developed symptoms).

Etiotropic therapy for viral colds is not very diverse, since there are not many agents that directly affect the virus (Remantadin, Tamiflu, Ingavirin, etc.), as well as immunomodulating agents (Anaferon, Aflubin, Oscillococinum, Grippferon, etc.). An antibiotic for a cold is prescribed for an adult in case of a bacterial infection (Azithromycin, Amoxiclav, Ciprofloxacin, etc.), and bacterial immunostimulants (IRS-19, Immudon, etc.) are also prescribed.

Pathogenic therapy has wide range actions, and, as a rule, is prescribed only by a doctor, these are bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory, desensitizing, etc.

Symptomatic treatment is aimed at reducing and relieving the symptoms of a cold in adults - these are painkillers, antipyretics, antitussive and expectorant drugs (mucolytics), drugs for nasal congestion.

Medications and antibiotics for colds in adults

The vast majority of cold remedies can cause side effects when used, which is why self-medication is not recommended. With regard to antibiotics, another side effect may be the development of resistance of the microorganism to the drug. An antibiotic for a cold for an adult can only be prescribed by a doctor, and all his prescriptions should be implicitly followed!

Antiviral drugs for colds in adults, for the most part, can be used both for the treatment and for the prevention of colds:

— Remantadin. Inexpensive and effective drug. Treatment should be started at the first manifestations of a cold and carried out according to established instruction scheme.

— Arbidol. Available in tablet form and capsule form. single dose application of 200 mg. It is better to start treatment with the first manifestations of a cold and continue for 5 days according to the instructions.

— Kagocel. Antiviral and immunostimulating drug. A single dose of the drug - 2 tablets. It is used at the first symptoms of a cold in adults, the treatment is carried out according to the instructions. Prophylactic administration is carried out in weekly courses, with breaks between taking pills of five days.

Among the most popular and safe immunomodulators are:

— Anaferon. Pleasant tasting lozenges. Treatment begins with the first symptoms of a cold, according to the instructions attached to the medicine. The course is carried out until complete recovery.

- Oscillococcinum. homeopathic remedy used from the first days of life.

For muscle pain, headache and fever, apply combined preparations:

- Theraflu. One sachet three times a day for up to 3 days. Similar actions and method of application are also possessed by such means as Fervex, Coldrex, Grippoflu, etc.

— Panadol. Effective antipyretic drug. The scheme of application depends on the condition of the patient.

- Eferalgan oops. Dissolve the tablet in water, take up to 4 times a day.

With severe nasal congestion and rhinitis, drops are used:

— Xilen. Possesses vasoconstrictor action. Reduces swelling and short term allows you to breathe freely through your nose. Not recommended long-term use due to the development of addiction to the drug.

— Tizin. Promotes thinning of viscous mucus, relieves swelling and facilitates breathing.

— Pinosol. herbal preparation, which is based on essential oils. It has a local bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect. Removes puffiness and thins mucus.

For pain and sore throat apply various pills and plates for colds in adults (Grammidin, Falimint, Geksoral, etc.) up to 6 tablets per day. Sprays and aerosols (Joks, Kameton, etc.) are also used, making injections up to 3 times a day.

Depending on the type of cough, apply the following drugs: with dry - Tussin, Gedelix, etc., mucolytics - ACC, Ambrobene, etc., with antitussive action - Codelac, Terpinkod, etc.

Colds in adults - which doctor will help? If there are symptoms of a cold, adults should seek advice and prescribe treatment from a general practitioner or infectious disease specialist.