Flu: Protect Your Children

As the flu virus is easily transmitted by airborne droplets, it is very probable that your child will catch it.
Flu starts with, like the most of other infectious diseases, with lung ailments. Then the condition is deteriorating rapidly: strong headache starts, pains in muscle and joints, increasing body temperature, a general weakness. A little later, dry cough starts, pain in the chest when breathing, sneezing and running nose. If the immunity is strong enough, a few days later a full breakdown of these manifestations is gradually decreasing, but the symptoms completely disappear no sooner than after 7-10 days. But this is not a full recovery – the body will be weakened by infection recuperates at least a month later.

The flu is more dangerous than it seems. Most people tend to underestimate the risk of influenza. However, this disease is not always developed in the way as was described above. Because of the severe influenza can happen disruption of the brain and internal organs, resulting in death after several days of onset. This form of influenza is known as hyper toxic. In addition, the disease is dangerous for its complications: pneumonia, brain or envelopes of the heart muscle.

This virus is particularly dangerous for children. Their immune system is very weak, and may not resist the infection. Therefore, the risk of severe influenza among young patients is much higher than among adults. According to studies, up to 70 percent of all health problems among children are associated with influenza and other ARI.

 The risk group – children

In the high-risk group are the children living in big cities. This is due to several factors. First, virtually such children attend such places as kindergartens and schools. As influenza is transmitted by airborne droplets (when coughing, sneezing and talking), it spreads like lightning in such communities. If an ill child coughs in school, in a few days a large part of his/her classmates will have high temperature.

Second, air pollution in megapolis also can be a reason of influenza, especially the food, which is not always healthy and full. Often the child’s immune system is undermined by parents who inappropriately, without the recommendation of physicians give their children biologically active additives, antibiotics, adaptogens and other drugs.

There are preventative vaccinations to prevent the disease. They are really effective, but don’t help in all cases. This is due to the high variability of the virus – its antigens are constantly changing. Vaccines also contain only a limited set of antigens, and are effective only against viruses that contain them. In addition, vaccination is only for prevention, but if the disease has already developed, it should be treated.

However, we should remember that influenza is a virus, and not a bacteria. This means that the antibiotics can not combat it effectively.

One of its most important parts of antiviral immunity is interferons. These substances alter the functioning of cells in such a way that they become immune to the virus and are not involved in its reproduction. In addition, the activation of lymphocytes and macrophages immune cells occurs under the effect of them.

However, the organism is not always able to respond to the introduction of the virus. Especially if the child has an organism with reduced immunity.