Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
06/25/2013
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
With the arrival of winter, diseases that affect the respiratory system become more common, crowding hospital emergencies. The Ministry of Health warns the population to adopt preventive measures against these diseases. One reason for the proliferation of these diseases is the concentration of people indoors. Simple hygiene habits are important for prevention, since the virus remains alive in the environment for up to 72 hours and on surfaces such as handrails, door handles and taps, up to 10 hours.
Hygiene care must be redoubled with children and elderly. In children, it is recommended - especially in the school environment - that besides the hands, toys and objects of common use are washed with soap and water or cleaned with alcohol gel (70%). In kindergartens is also important to avoid children to sleep very close. The distance between them is one meter.
As for the elderly, the danger lies in the complications from the flu, such as pneumonia and worsening of chronic diseases, including hypertension and diabetes. One among the various forms of prevention is the flu vaccine, which was supplied by the Ministry of Health to the most vulnerable. "This year, we exceeded our goal and we vaccinate more than 90% of the target population. The vaccine does not completely eliminate the transmission of the flu, but can reduce complications and deaths, "says Jarbas Barbosa, Secretary of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health
Prevention
Some simple measures can prevent infection by diseases typical of winter:
- Sanitize your hands with soap and water or alcohol gel, especially after coughing or sneezing, after using the bathroom, before eating, before and after touching the eyes, nose and mouth.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth after touching potentially contaminated surfaces such as handrails, seats and door handles
- Avoid protect cough and sneeze with your hands, using preferably disposable tissue
- Avoid contact with people who have the flu syndrome
Colds and rhinitis
The cold is often confused with the flu. Although similar, cold symptoms are milder and last for less time, between two and four days. In general, people present with cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, body aches and sore throat light. The common cold, fever is less common and when it appears, is low.
Another disease that also has similar symptoms and can be confused with flu is allergic rhinitis. The main symptoms are sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion and sore throat. Allergic rhinitis is not a communicable disease caused by contact with agents that cause allergies such as dust, animal dander, pollution, mold, and some foods.
Already influenza virus (flu) can be transmitted by adult patients for up to seven days, and 14 days in children. The most common form of transmission is direct between people through saliva droplets expelled by speaking, sneezing and coughing. The other way is indirect, through the hands after touching surfaces contaminated with secretions from sick people can carry the virus directly into the mouth, nose and eyes.
Treatment
To develop symptoms of flu, cold or rhinitis, the Ministry of Health recommends that people seek health services closer and do not take medications on their own, such as cold medicine. Self-medication may mask symptoms, contribute to the worsening of the disease and make diagnosis, which must be done by a doctor.
For cases of flu-like illness in people vulnerable to complications, the Ministry of Health recommends that doctors prescribe the use of antiviral Oseltamivir Phosphate (Tamiflu), in accordance with the Protocol Treatment of Influenza in 2013. Just this year, were sent to state departments over a million treatments that should be available in health facilities across the country.
Source: UOL - Modern Consumer
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.