Flu - this is a highly contagious viral disease that is spread by airborne droplets. They can be caught year-round, but the flu is particularly common in the winter, so it is also known as "seasonal flu." Influenza causes sudden fever, headache, Headache: Causes and Complications , Muscle aches, malaise and sore throat

What to do at the first sign

People who are generally healthy, with flu symptoms do not necessarily go to the doctor (if you do not need a certificate of illness for the employer). In this case, the best remedy for the flu is bed rest and drinking plenty of fluids.

To relieve the symptoms, you can take acetaminophen, ibuprofen Ibuprofen: anti-inflammatory drug Or aspirin.

If you have symptoms of flu should contact a doctor for people over 65, pregnant women and those who have chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, kidney or neurological disease.

Help your doctor if flu is needed and people with weakened immune systems.

In these patients, influenza can be especially difficult and may need to take an antiviral medication.

Antiviral drugs weaken flu symptoms and speed up recovery, but that the treatment was effective, they need to start taking as soon as possible after the onset of flu symptoms.

Antibiotics are useless in treating flu, as flu is caused by a virus, not bacteria.

As a general rule, a person begins to feel unwell for a few days after getting the flu.

Symptoms are especially strong for another two or three days later, and a week later there is a significant improvement, although the overall weakness may persist for several weeks.

A person can infect others have flu the day before the onset of symptoms, and over the next five or six days. Children and people with weakened immune systems The immune system - how it works? For example, cancer patients may remain infectious for a longer time.

Flu shots

Vaccinated against influenza is recommended to almost everyone, but it is especially important for pregnant women, people aged 65 or older, seriously ill patients, health care workers, as well as all those who by virtue of their professional activities should be every day to chat with many people.

New vaccines against influenza usually occur in October. For vaccination should contact their doctor.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of the flu:

• The rapid rise in body temperature;
• Coughing;
• Headache;
• Weakness, malaise;
• Chills;
• Muscle aches;
• Stomach upset.

Treatment of influenza

The flu requires bed rest, a balanced diet and drink plenty of liquids. If a person is generally healthy, after a while the flu will pass. If necessary, you can take non-prescription pain relievers.

However, in some cases, a special reception antivirals Antivirals - basic classification .

• Tamiflu (oseltamivir)

Tamiflu taken orally in capsule or as a syrup. This drug is effective if you start taking it within 48 hours after the first symptoms of influenza.

It is usually recommended to take one tablet twice a day for five days. Patients with kidney disease may go lower doses.

Tamiflu can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea. Typically, these side effects are weak, but if they cause you concern, consult a doctor.

• Relenza (zanamivir)

Like Tamiflu, the drug need to start taking 48 hours after the onset of symptoms of influenza.

It is safe and very rarely gives any side effects.

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) - this is the final stage of HIV infection, which causes serious damage to the human immune system. AIDS is the sixth most common cause of death among people aged 25-44 in the United States (in 1995 it was the most common cause). According to the World Health Organization over the world since the beginning of the epidemic of AIDS killed more than 25 million people.

In 2008, the world was about 33, 4 million people living with HIV / AIDS, including 2, 1 million children under the age of 15 years. AIDS is the human immunodeficiency virus HIV - can be slow, can not be stopped   (HIV). The virus attacks the immune system and makes the body vulnerable to a variety of infections diseases.

Common bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses that usually do not cause serious illness in people with healthy immune systems can cause a life-threatening condition in people with AIDS. Infected HIV virus is found in saliva, tears, the tissues of the nervous system and the cerebrospinal fluid, blood, semen, vaginal secretions The whole truth about vaginal secretions   and breast milk. However, the infection can spread to other people only through blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk.

Symptoms

AIDS begins with HIV infection. People living with HIV for 10 years or more may be missing signs of disease, but all the time they can infect other people. If the infection is not detected and treatment is started, HIV progressively weaken the immune system, and develop AIDS.

A small group of HIV-infected people develop AIDS very slowly, or not developed at all. It is assumed, though not yet established with certainty that these patients have certain genetic characteristics that do not allow the virus to cause serious damage to the immune system.

AIDS symptoms mainly caused by infections, which typically do not develop in people with healthy immune systems. These are called opportunistic infections.

People with AIDS are susceptible to these infections; the main symptoms of opportunistic infections:

• Chills;
• Fever;
• Increased sweating (especially at night)
• Inflammation of the lymph nodes;
• Weakness;
• Weight loss.

Diagnostics

In the past, AIDS was diagnosed on the basis of the presence of human HIV-infection and other diseases. Today, AIDS can be diagnosed in a person if he is HIV-positive and the number of CD4 cells (a type of T-helper cells of the immune system) had less than 200 cells / mm3, even in the absence of opportunistic infections.

AIDS may also be diagnosed if a person develops one of the opportunistic infections and cancers that are most common in HIV-infected. These infections are rare in people with healthy immune systems The immune system - how it works? .

Treatment

Currently there is no way to cure AIDS. However, there are means to control HIV infection, as well as to improve the quality of life of those who have already developed AIDS.

Antiretroviral therapy suppresses the replication of HIV in the body. Using a combination of several antiretroviral drugs, treatment, called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), helps to keep stable or even increase the number of T cells, the immune system is so effective against HIV.

HAART is not a cure for HIV and AIDS, but for the past 12 years it has successfully used by many people.

However, the HIV can be resistant to one HAART combinations, especially in patients who do not take the medication according to a strict schedule each day. To determine HIV resistance to a particular drug using special genetic tests that allow you to choose the best combination of drugs for each patient. These tests should be performed prior to initiating therapy, as well as signs that the therapy has ceased to be effective. There are many drugs that can be used in HIV that are resistant to HAART.

Side effects of HAART may be: the appearance of fat does not roll back and abdominal pain, malaise, headache, nausea Nausea - there may be problems with the nervous system   and weakness.