What's the difference betweenflu and common cold?
Influenza usually has four types, among which type A and type B are the most common.
1. Influenza A:
After human infection, symptoms are obvious, and the peak usually appears in winter and spring, which may cause pandemics irregularly.
2. Influenza B:
There are mainly two types: BV and BY. Usually, there is a peak popularity every few years, showing periodic seasonal popularity.
3. Influenza C:
Rare. It can infect humans, but the symptoms are lighter pose less threat to humans.
4. Influenza D:
Rare, can infect a few animals, and no human infection cases have been seen posing the least threat to humans.
Influenza onset, seize the "golden 48 hours"
Experts remind that the 48 hours of flu onset is called the "golden 48 hours" for selfrescue. If high-risk groups do not use effective antiviral drugs within 48 hours, the disease may develop into pneumonia, severe illness, etc The drugs for treating flu can be oseltamivir or marboxil. What's the difference between the two? Click the video to listen to expert's answer ↓
Oseltamivir administration method: twice a day, for a course of treatment of 5 days;
boxil administration method: take once.
Currently; Marboxil is currently only approved for use in children and adults over 5 years of age and over 20 kilograms; oseltamivir capsules and granules can be used in children over 1 year of age and adults, and the range for the dry suspension is even smaller, with the dosage calculated according to weight for infants.
Doctors remind that infants and young children should be given priority timely medical treatment after infection, and use drugs under the guidance of a doctor, including patients in the gestational period and lactation period, who should give priority to safety of medication.
In terms of symptom relief, the two drugs are equivalent, and Marboxil is slightly better than Oseltamivir in of the speed of reducing viral load. When flu-related symptoms appear, taking antiviral drugs within the "golden 48 hours" can achieve selfrescue.
In addition, there are two non-steroidal antipyretic analgesics, acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and one them can be equipped at home. If the fever is more obvious or causes physical discomfort, you can use antipyretic drugs
What to do if there is a flu patient at home?
Advise the patient to rest at home.
Stay in a single room with good ventilation, and minimize contact with other household.
The patient should take note of personal hygiene.
Maintain good respiratory hygiene habits, and cover mouth and nose with tissues, towels, etc. when coughing and sneezing.
Closely monitor the health status of the patient and household members.
Seek medical care promptly if the or other household members develop persistent high fever, accompanied by severe cough, difficulty in breathing, changes in mental status, severe vomiting, and diarrhea, which are indicative of disease.
Where possible, a fixed household member who is not at high risk of influenza should take care of the patient, and a mask should be worn when close contact with the patient.
Watch out! These common misconceptions about home disinfection have tricked many people.
Large area spraying alcohol to disinfect the air
Alcohol is highly flammable, anding a large amount in a confined space can increase the concentration of ethanol in the air, so it is not recommended to use alcohol with a concentration of 75 or higher for large-scale spraying to disinfect the air, especially in confined spaces. When the concentration of ethanol in the air is >3.%, it may cause a fire or even an explosion when exposed to an open flame or static electricity.
In addition, inhaling too much alcohol vapor may irrit the respiratory system of the human body, causing discomfort symptoms such as dizziness and nausea. It is not recommended to use alcohol spray to disinfect the air.taining indoor ventilation and using professional air disinfection equipment is a safer and more effective choice.
Use chlorine-containing disinfectant — Disinfect metal leather products
Chlorine-containing disinfectants have strong oxidizing properties and will corrode metal and leather products. After the metal surface comes into contact chlorine, chemical reactions will occur, generating chlorides or oxides that can accelerate rusting; chlorine will destroy the collagen structure of leather products, making brittle and hard, and may also react with dyes, causing fading or spots. For metal surfaces, non-corrosive disinfectants can be used and for leather products, special cleaning agents or alcohol wet wipes should be used for cleaning.
Directly apply disinfectant to the human body
-concentration disinfectants such as hypochlorous acid or alcohol usually contain strong oxidizing or corrosive chemical ingredients, which can irritate the respiratory mosa and destroy epithelial cells when inhaled, leading to coughing, sore throat, or even causing mucosal inflammation or damage. When in contact with skin, it will destroy the protective barrier of the skin, causing dryness, redness, itching, or even burns or allergic reactions. Personal protection should be when using disinfectants, such as wearing masks and gloves, to avoid direct contact or inhalation of high concentrations.
Mixed use of different types disinfectants
The mixed use of different types of disinfectants may produce dangerous chemical reactions or reduce the disinfection effect. Mixing 84infectant (chlorine-containing) with acidic cleaners will release toxic chlorine gas, which may cause poisoning in serious cases; quaternary ammonium saltinfectants mixed with soap may undergo acid-base neutralization, losing disinfectant activity. When using disinfectants, it is necessary to understand their ingredients and mixing them at will to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Add common disinfectant to detergent
During the washing process, a large amount of water willute the disinfectant, making its concentration too low to effectively kill pathogens. And chlorine-containing disinfectant may corrode the metal parts and inner of the washing machine, shortening the service life of the equipment. Mixing the use of detergent and disinfectant may produce chemical reactions, releasing irritating gases harmful substances, which are harmful to human health. It is recommended to handle clothes separately when washing, and use high temperature or separate disinfection programs when necessary
