Notes in the treatment of colds and flu

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Huy Nhat - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital. Doctor Nguyen Huy Nhat has many years of experience in the field of respiratory disease treatment.
Influenza is a common illness, patients can buy medicine at home under the direction of a doctor. The following article will help you learn what medicine to take when you have the flu and some notes to help cure the flu quickly and effectively.

1. What is the flu and who is susceptible to the flu?

Influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. When having a cold, patients often have fever, feeling tired, body aches, fatigue, sneezing, headache, cold all over for a few days, then runny nose and cough, hoarseness, chest tightness. , less urine.
Influenza is a very common illness, the immune system plays an important role in the risk of flu infection. People with weak immune systems such as the elderly, people with chronic diseases, and children are very susceptible to flu. In addition, people who lack sleep, poor nutrition, are sedentary at risk of flu infection are also very high.
Influenza occurs all year round, but on cold rainy days, prolonged wet weather, the rate of people with flu will increase because the weather creates favorable conditions for the flu virus to develop and in the cold season. Human respiratory is also sensitive, more easily irritated.

2. What medicine do you take for a cold?

Because flu is a common disease, what medicine to take is a matter of concern for many people. The common cold is a benign disease and usually goes away on its own after 5-7 days, there is no specific treatment, but there are some quick flu medicines that help reduce symptoms and make people feel better. than.
To reduce symptoms of fever, headache, sore throat, you can use Paracetamol (another name is Acetaminophen). This is a fairly safe, over-the-counter medicine that helps reduce fever and relieve mild to moderate pain. The dose of paracetamol is calculated by weight. To use the drug safely, it is advisable to use the correct dose and keep a reasonable distance between the doses. Normally, the two doses of Paracetamol must be 4-6 hours apart. Overdosing or taking too close to each other increases the risk of side effects, especially liver damage, that can cause liver damage.

The vasoconstrictor groups such as Naphazoline, oxymetazoline, xylometazoline are used in the form of nasal drops to help relieve nasal congestion. The drug helps to constrict the small arteries, capillaries, and cavernous veins to push blood to other places, making the nasal passages wide, clearing the stuffy nose, making it easier for the patient to breathe. The above drugs should only be used for 3-5 days, if the drug is used for a long time, it can cause rhinitis, the patient's nose will be edematous and the nasal congestion will increase, the nose will smell bad, headache. ... Drugs have many different concentrations, each drug has an age limit for use, consult a doctor to choose the appropriate drug.
In the case of colds and flu, if the cough symptoms are mild, insignificant, there is no need to use medicine because coughing is a good response of the body, helping to expel foreign objects in the airways. However, if the cough level is high, the cough often makes the patient sore throat, fatigue, discomfort, it is recommended to use cough suppressants to help the patient feel more comfortable. If the cough is dry, you can use Dextromethophan, codeine, if the cough is dry with stuffy nose and runny nose, you can use combination drugs such as Atussin, Decolsin, Rhumenol,... The combination drugs contain active ingredients to reduce cough such as dextromethophan and antitussives. Histamines such as chlorpheniramine and fexofenadine help to quickly relieve symptoms of sneezing, stuffy nose, and number of noses.

Combination drug preparations that help cure colds and flu quickly should be used by many people, however, because the drug contains antihistamines or causes drowsiness and drowsiness, after taking the medicine, it is advisable not to drive or operate a vehicle. machines, it is best to take the medicine in the evening to ensure safety.
If you have a cough with phlegm, you can use sputum-thinning and expectorant drugs such as Bromhexin, Ambroxol, Acetylcysteine,... These are drugs that help reduce phlegm, thinner phlegm when coughing will be easier to pass out.
Drop the nose, wash the nose, gargle daily with physiological saline, drink a lot of orange and lemon juice, ginger water - honey, hot lemon water - honey to help warm the body also works very well, honey also It has a soothing effect on the throat and helps relieve cough effectively.
Note that antibiotics are not effective in treating flu, because flu is a viral disease, antibiotics only kill bacteria, not viruses. Only use antibiotics in cases of bacterial superinfection, the use of antibiotics must be examined and guided by a doctor.
Most colds and flu will go away on their own, but there are some cases where the illness is severe. If the symptoms of flu persist for more than a week, the patient has a persistent high fever, does not improve with the use of common antipyretics, coughs much, chest tightness, shortness of breath, pain, and fatigue increase. patients to medical facilities for timely monitoring and treatment. Severe cases of flu often occur in people with chronic diseases, immunocompromised people, alcoholics, the elderly, young children, pregnant women, etc. With flu, when you have a cold, you should pay attention to eating and drinking, using medicines to treat colds quickly, rest a lot to recover quickly. Get a flu shot every year to reduce your risk of getting sick.

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