Ocular herpes, flu and other dangerous eye diseases

Complications on the eyes after the flu occur due to severe intoxication of the body and involvement of eye tissue in the acute inflammatory process. The flu itself, which is initially a viral disease, can provoke all sorts of complications in the ears and sinuses, which through a chain reaction are “transferred” to the visual organs in the form of a severe inflammatory process.

The so-called eye flu most often affects the cornea of the visual organs. Less commonly, it affects the choroid, nerve connections and the entire eyeball. This happens in the absence of timely drug therapy, when the cold is advanced, and provokes unpleasant consequences.

Eye complications may occur after the flu

Causes

The causes of damage to the organs of vision due to influenza are the following factors:

release of toxic elements by the pathogen, which spread through the blood into organs and tissues;
lack of drug therapy;
an increase in body temperature above 38.5 degrees, which leads to increased load on the organs of vision, increased intraocular pressure, and acute pain;
the spread of a viral or bacterial infection to the sinuses, which moves along the lacrimal duct to the area of the eyeballs, which leads to the release of pus and increased lacrimation;
the formation of migraine with influenza, a complication of which is acute pain in the area of the eyeballs,
vasodilation, as a result of which immune system cells enter the eye tissue area, forming inflammation and swelling;
complications from a viral disease, which manifests itself in the form of a disturbance in the composition of the microflora of the eyes, an increase in the concentration of pathogenic microorganisms, which forms bacterial conjunctivitis.

The doctor must find out the root cause of the disease in order to completely eliminate it. Only in this case will there be no relapse of the process.

Causes of pain in the eyes

Most often, eyes hurt due to coronavirus due to elevated temperature. The body is weakened by infection, the action of the immune system is aimed at suppressing the pathogen, which is rapidly spreading to the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs. It is the inflammatory process that indirectly causes pain in the eyes.

Toxins can also provoke an unpleasant symptom. When a coronavirus infection operates, decay products are released that penetrate the blood, causing an acceleration of blood flow. Toxins then penetrate into the muscles of the body, resulting in weakness and pain. Doctors warn that the muscle tissue on the face is the most sensitive and immediately reacts to the accumulation of harmful substances.

With coronavirus, nasal congestion also often appears, and a runny nose does not bother you. It is this sign that notifies that inflammatory processes have begun in the nasal sinuses and swelling has appeared. If you do not immediately use drugs that normalize the condition and make breathing easier, pressure in the nasal sinuses begins to increase. Its increase will result in painful sensations, which are most often localized in the frontal part of the head or in the eye area.

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Poor vision significantly worsens the quality of life and makes it impossible to see the world as it is. Not to mention the progression of pathologies and complete blindness.

The patient experiences redness in one eye, followed by redness in the other eye. Then there may be a sensation of a foreign body on the eyelid, the eyes begin to itch and become very sensitive to light.

The patient's temperature rises, tearfulness, migraines begin, and general weakness is felt. When describing their condition, patients noted that their eyes were burning, they were tearing, and there was discharge in the form of pus or tear fluid.

The main cause of the disease is the seasonal influenza virus or adenovirus group virus. If it is not treated promptly, the virus affects the cornea of the eyes and practically paralyzes the organ of vision.

What are the symptoms of eye flu?

As experts from the Federal Center for Health Education in Germany note, in its first symptoms, eye flu is very similar to standard conjunctivitis. First, there is redness in one eye, then swelling appears in the other. It may feel as if there is some kind of foreign body under the eyelid. As the disease progresses, severe itching in the eyes occurs and sensitivity to light is noted.

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The incubation period after infection is 5-12 days. And as soon as the first signs of the disease appear, a person can be called infectious to others. Doctors call eye flu insidious because it is resistant to drugs and is also considered highly contagious (that is, it is very easy to become infected with it). In addition, it is characterized by a long duration of complications - for example, many who have had the infection complain of “cloudness” in their eyes for several more weeks. The only thing that can slightly alleviate a person’s condition, doctors say, is eye drops with cyclosporine.

Symptoms

The spread of influenza to the eye area is accompanied by the following clinical symptoms:

malaise (weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, lethargy);
irritation, pain, burning, itching in the area of the superficial tissues of the eyes;
inflammation and swelling of the eyelids and mucous membranes;
redness of the conjunctiva, small hemorrhages rarely form, which subsequently resolve on their own;
dizziness, headache, migraine;
headache radiating to various parts of the head (ears, temples, back of the head);
increased pain in the eye area with tension, for example, due to watching TV, prolonged work at the computer, or using the phone;
nausea, vomiting;
chills, accompanied by fever, with a change in body temperature from subfebrile values (37-37.5 degrees) to high (38.5 and above).

Complications from the flu may include one or more symptoms. Based on them, the doctor can suggest a diagnosis, which will be confirmed using laboratory and instrumental examination methods.

Eye flu: symptoms and treatment – Health OK – Healthy lifestyle portal

Everyone knows the flu in its traditional form.
But eye flu? This disease resembles conjunctivitis, but its causative agents are viruses, not bacteria. And there really is no therapy against it. But is it possible to at least protect yourself from infection? The eye becomes red, itchy and watery. Classic conjunctivitis? It's not even necessary at all. The same symptoms may conceal eye flu, an extremely contagious infection caused by adenoviruses.

And these extremely persistent pathogens are transmitted, for example, by shaking hands. They can also lie in wait for us on door handles, handrails and other surfaces.

And anyone who touches them and rubs their eyes after this can become infected with this scourge.

“Ultimately, only a specialist can decide whether a patient has conjunctivitis or whether it is an eye flu,” says Klaus Kursiefen, professor and director of the ophthalmology clinic at the University of Cologne.

As a rule, eye flu starts on one side, that is, one eye.

“In addition to redness, itching and excessive watering, the lymph nodes in the ear become swollen,” explains Ludger Wallring, ophthalmologist and member of the professional association of German ophthalmologists.

Patients try to avoid light, sometimes their eyelids swell and droop. Once viruses attack one eye, they usually spread to the other.

As a result, vision is impaired for a long time. “This happens because in addition to the connective tissue, the cornea also becomes inflamed and clouded,” Kursifen says.

From his information it follows that eye flu usually clears up completely in about two to four weeks.

“However, in some cases it can happen that scars form on the cornea, which can impair vision in the long term.”

A disease that cannot be hidden

In accordance with European medical practice, the doctor must inform the territorial health authority about the diagnosis of “eye flu”.

The fact is that epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, as it is called in ophthalmology, is included in the list of diseases subject to registration.

To determine whether there are adenoviruses in the secretions of the eye, a smear is taken and analyzed in a laboratory. “However, it can take weeks to see results,” says Wallring.

It is also possible to detect eye flu using a blood test. To do this, the doctor takes a blood test at the beginning of the illness and two weeks after it - that is, it will not work faster in this case either.

Contact your doctor immediately

The manifestation of signs of conjunctivitis in newborns is always an emergency. With such symptoms, coordinated work of doctors of several specialties is always required. In older children and adults, symptoms of eye flu include eye pain and blurred vision accompanied by red and watery eyes. And in this case, you should run to the ophthalmologist as fast as you can.

However, patients with such symptoms should, if possible, inform their doctor in advance. Such patients, again if possible, should be seen by the doctor in a separate room to avoid spreading the infection to other patients.

You can only relieve the symptoms

Unfortunately, there is no approved therapy to combat adenoviruses yet. Antibiotics do not help because eye flu is caused by viruses, not bacteria, as is the case with conjunctivitis. This is why treatment primarily focuses on reducing symptoms.

For this, anti-inflammatory drugs are used, in particular eye drops, which contain the active ingredient cyclosporine. If dry eyes occur, other drops or ointments may provide sufficient liquid film. “For victims, it is best to treat eye flu at home, in which case the doctor should place the patient on sick leave,” says Wallring.

Wash everything thoroughly and do not share common objects.

To avoid infecting relatives or friends, the main and final goal is hygiene. “People with eye flu can usually infect others in the first two weeks of illness,” Kursifen explains.

The expert advises those who are sick to wash their hands as often as possible. The same applies to those who live with them in the same home.

Soaps, creams and other personal care products used by sick people should never be used by others.

Also, during illness, patients should avoid visiting public institutions. Sick people can go to work, attend school or preschool institutions only after consulting with their doctor. But this, as a rule, occurs no earlier than two weeks from the onset of the disease.

The most unpleasant thing is that infection with adenoviruses can occur again and again after a person has already had this virus.

But is there any way to protect yourself from eye flu? “Unfortunately, there are no guaranteed solutions,” says Wallring.

The only thing that can protect us to some extent is frequent hand washing and avoiding shaking hands - just like with the real flu.

Source: https://healthok.ru/zdorove/glaznoj-gripp-simptomy-i-lechenie/

Classification of eye complications

Complications of influenza on the eyes are divided into several types. Each of them has its own treatment:

Inflammation of the cornea. The patient develops acute inflammation, redness, and swelling of the cornea. Body temperature rises. If the condition is not eliminated, a complication will arise in the form of decreased visual acuity.
Inflammation of the iris. Inflammation, swelling and redness of the area develops. The shape of the pupil changes, which reduces the perception of surrounding objects. The condition is dangerous because the infection can spread to the internal structures of the eyeballs.
Development of herpes. This pathogen is constantly present in the patient’s nerve fibers and blood. With complications from the flu, herpes is activated, which complicates the patient’s condition and worsens his well-being.

To prevent the development of complications from influenza infection, it is necessary to promptly consult a doctor and carry out treatment.

Complications and eye diseases

Complications are a pathological process that develops against the background of the underlying disease. Complications of influenza can be caused by both viruses and bacteria (secondary infection). In addition, the influenza virus can “activate” chronic diseases. Often, during and after the flu, a person experiences an exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, or herpetic rashes.

Let's look at some complications of ARVI on the organs of vision.

Inflammation of the sclera (the white, opaque membrane of the eye) – scleritis. A tubercle filled with fluid forms in the area of the sclera. The eye hurts, especially when blinking or touching. Often such blisters resolve on their own after the flu, and vision is not affected. But scleritis is dangerous, as it can cause inflammation of the deeper layers of the eyeball.
Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea of the eyeball. With keratitis, bubbles (less than a millimeter in diameter) form on the surface of the eye, which burst, forming small ulcers. Bacteria multiply in these ulcers, which can lead to purulent inflammation, threatening vision deterioration and even loss. In addition, when healing, ulcers often leave opacities on the cornea, reducing visual acuity. Interestingly, with keratitis, the eyes may not hurt, since the cornea is practically not sensitive.
Influenza iridocyclitis (inflammation of the iris and ciliary body) is a rare but dangerous complication. Symptoms of this disease are swelling, redness of the eye, protrusion, severe pain radiating to other areas of the head. The shape of the pupil and iris may change. If left untreated, pus fills the entire eyeball, and then the eye dies completely.
Ocular neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerves. At its earliest stages, the patient notices a deterioration in vision - a decrease in clarity, the ability to distinguish colors, etc. “Interference” appears in the field of vision. Only a doctor can diagnose neuritis after examining the fundus. Neuritis must be treated, as nerve damage often leads to blindness.
Flu can worsen glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease caused by increased intraocular pressure. And since the flu dilates blood vessels and increases blood pressure, the condition of patients with glaucoma worsens. To reduce intraocular pressure, diacarb is used in the form of drops.
Flu can be a trigger for exacerbation of herpes. Herpes is a virus that is present in the body of most people. It is impossible to get rid of it completely. Most of the time it is in a latent state - it does not manifest itself in any way. After suffering from the flu, a person’s immunity drops and herpes is activated. It can cause damage to the mucous membrane of the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea and other parts of the eye. Herpetic infections are difficult to treat and can impair vision clarity.
Conjunctivitis can be of a viral or bacterial nature. If it develops against the background of ARVI, it is still worth doing a bacteriological culture to exclude the possibility of a secondary infection. Bacterial conjunctivitis is usually treated with penicillin antibiotics in the form of ointments. For more severe cases, antibiotics are also used in tablets and injections. For viral conjunctivitis, drops with interferon are used (dropped into the eyes several times a day).

Kidneys

The consequences of influenza, like complications of influenza, can result in problems with the kidneys and urinary tract. Sometimes symptoms practically do not appear, which means that pathology can only be detected by conducting a laboratory urine test.

Doctors prefer not to start treatment without testing ten days after the diagnosis of influenza and ARVI.

When a person had the flu, then:

legs, eyes and lower back hurt,
the temperature rises,
there is dizziness,
urine output decreases.

There may also be:

pyelonephritis,
glomerulonephritis,
acute renal failure,
cystitis.

There is often dizziness, toothache, sweating, as well as dry coughing and sneezing. Treatment is needed to prevent the disease from becoming chronic.

Acute pneumonia lasts from several days to a month. Then complete recovery occurs. In its chronic form, pneumonia debilitates the body over certain periods.

You should do a full course of treatment, after which you should strengthen the body’s protective functions.

Swine flu h1n1

Swine flu can be spread through the air. The first symptoms of the h1n1 virus are similar to those of regular flu. After some time the following appears:

low-grade fever (lasts a long time),
dizziness,
joints weaken and hurt,
dry strong cough,
nasal congestion and sore throat,
nausea and vomiting.

If there is at least one manifestation of h1n1, you should immediately consult a doctor. Swine flu often appears on the second day of infection. Main complications:

Viral pneumonia. It often causes death from the h1n1 virus. Pneumonia affects lung tissue and cannot be treated with antibiotics. The disease provokes kidney and lung failure, and the heart suffers.
Other, milder diseases: otitis media, sinusitis, convulsions, pericarditis, asthma, renal failure, myocarditis, cardiovascular diseases.

Swine flu is not fatal. The h1n1 virus is virtually indistinguishable from the regular flu and should be treated in the same way. If treatment is started in a timely manner, then the h1n1 virus can be effectively gotten rid of, the main thing is to recognize it.

People who have h1n1 swine flu should take their condition seriously. It is important that the legs rest, while the temperature should be brought down with antipyretic drugs and eat well.

Treatment

To eliminate complications from influenza, complex therapy is used:

antiviral agents aimed at eliminating the pathogen;
antiseptics, antibacterial drugs, which are prescribed locally or systemically, they are aimed at destroying the infection that has developed as a result of complications;
antipyretic drugs used every 4 hours when the temperature reaches 38.5 degrees or more;
gargling with antiseptics and herbal solutions every hour to eliminate sore throat, inflammation and swelling;
moisturizing drops in the eyes aimed at eliminating dryness and preventing damage to the cornea.

In addition to medications, it is necessary to adhere to bed rest, food used during the disease must contain useful substances, vitamins, trace elements, and minerals. It is important to drink at least 2 liters of water per day.

How to avoid complications from the flu

In order to prevent complications of ARVI and the h1n1 virus, you need to:

Complete the treatment prescribed by the doctor. Each drug acts at a certain concentration, so you should not stop using the drugs, even if you improve.
Drink plenty of fluids. In particular, they consume juices, vitamins and fruit drinks. The liquid helps remove and dissolve waste products of bacteria and viruses, thereby cleansing the body.
Balanced diet. It is necessary to eat cereals with fiber, vitamins (vegetables, fruits), and support intestinal microflora (fermented milk products). It is important to limit the consumption of fried, fatty, salty foods.
Treatment involves bed rest. This means that the legs must be at rest, watching television and working on the computer is prohibited. This irritates a nervous system that is already exhausted

Sources of disease and epidemiology

Influenza epidemics are a cyclical phenomenon, returning every year. Typically, the onset occurs in September and the peak occurs between February and March [2] . The flu spreads from person to person—and spreads quite easily. The main method of transmission is airborne droplets, but influenza is also transmitted through household contact. For infection, 0.0001 ml of nasopharyngeal secretion is enough - this is a microscopic droplet that is almost impossible to see. In addition, the influenza virus is very tenacious - it retains its virulence for many hours. For example, the virus remains active in the air for up to 9 hours, on fabric for up to 12 hours, and on plastic for up to two days [3].

It can be difficult to distinguish a viral acute respiratory infection from a bacterial one. Only test results can give an accurate answer. However, there are several external signs that allow you to suspect the flu.

With the flu, the illness begins very abruptly - in the morning you felt fine, but in the afternoon you realize that you are seriously ill. The temperature rises to 38–39˚С. The flu is almost always accompanied by reactions similar to allergies - the eyes become red, itchy and watery, and clear discharge from the nose appears. At the very beginning of the disease, there is usually no severe runny nose with copious colored discharge, no sore throat, or cough.

With bacterial acute respiratory infections, the disease develops more slowly, the temperature increases gradually and rarely crosses the 38˚C mark. Local lesions are very typical for a bacterial infection, such as severe sore throat, runny nose with greenish or yellowish discharge, otitis media, bronchitis, etc. Symptoms similar to allergic ones are often absent in bacterial acute respiratory infections.

A bacterial infection is often a consequence of the flu - the body, weakened by the virus, cannot resist bacteria, which leads to the development of bacterial complications.

If you suspect you have contracted the flu, the first thing to do is see a doctor and get tested. This is the only way to determine what type of infection it is, what medications will help fight it, and also find out if there are any bacterial complications. Medications should only be started after diagnosis, but non-drug methods should be used as soon as you feel unwell.

It is extremely important to take sick leave and ensure bed rest. A person with the flu is highly contagious, and trying to carry the disease on your feet will result in your co-workers and anyone else you come into contact with getting sick as well. You will increase your chances of getting an unpleasant (possibly even dangerous!) bacterial complication of the flu, such as meningitis or pneumonia.

If you have the flu, you should drink a lot - the heat causes sweating, and, therefore, greater loss of moisture. Contrary to popular belief, very hot drinks are contraindicated - even a slight burn to the mucous membranes of the larynx will make them more vulnerable to bacterial infections. Drinking should be warm and plentiful. Herbal teas, fruit drinks, non-acidic juices, compotes, kefir, and skim milk are perfect. It is not advisable to drink coffee - it increases heart rate and can worsen the condition. By drinking at least 2 liters of fluid per day, you help the body get rid of toxins, which cause a significant part of the flu symptoms - weakness, drowsiness, nausea, headache.

Maintain a comfortable temperature in the room and do not forget to open the windows regularly - this reduces the concentration of germs in the air. If it's cold outside, it's better to put an extra blanket, but don't give up on ventilation.

You can take a shower if you have the flu, unless, of course, you are going to go out into the cold air after the shower. Sometimes people with the flu feel so sick that they can barely walk to the bathroom. In this case, you can limit yourself to wiping with a damp towel or sanitary napkins. One way or another, it is advisable to wash off the sweat from the skin.

All medications for influenza can be divided into two groups: those that fight the cause of the disease (etiotropic drugs), and those that do not treat the disease itself, but alleviate its manifestations (symptomatic drugs).

Symptomatic remedies. This group of medications includes:

Antipyretic. To improve the condition of influenza, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. They lower the temperature, and many of these drugs also have an anti-inflammatory effect. The most famous antipyretics are ibuprofen, acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol.
Cold drops. For nasal congestion, doctors recommend dripping vasoconstrictor drops (for example, xylomethozoline), they instantly relieve swelling and allow you to breathe freely. But these drugs should be handled with care and not used for more than 3-5 days - otherwise there is a risk of developing drug-induced rhinitis, in which the swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa will become permanent and you will no longer be able to do without drops.
Antihistamines. They help relieve flu symptoms such as red eyes, swelling of the nasopharynx and clear nasal discharge. Tavegil, loratadine and other allergy medications are effective in this regard.

Etiotropic drugs. These are drugs that act on the causative agent of the disease, that is, on viruses or bacteria.

The most reliable way to avoid the disease is to get vaccinated in a timely manner. Modern vaccines are effective and safe, but we must remember that they do not provide long-term immunity, so you should be vaccinated annually.

During epidemics, certain precautions must be taken. Try to avoid crowds of people, and if this is not possible, wear disposable medical masks. Wash your hands as often as possible, since infection often enters the body through them. It is enough to touch the surface on which there are invisible droplets of liquid with the virus, and then rub your eyes - and you are already sick.

Carry out wet cleaning as often as possible; it is advisable to wipe the floor, surfaces and door handles with an antibacterial solution or detergent with an antibacterial effect. This also applies to the workplace - we do not encourage you to clean the entire office yourself, but it is still worth wiping the table, telephone and computer keyboard with alcohol wipes.

If you are often sick, it makes sense to take immunomodulators. Stress, overwork, insomnia, strict diets, a history of chronic diseases - all these factors weaken our defense, and during epidemics it needs help.

It is necessary to treat the flu - without timely and correct therapy, there is a very high risk of developing complications that can make themselves felt for many years. And the consequences of the flu, such as meningitis and pneumonia, are deadly, especially for children, adolescents and the elderly.

Eye complications may occur after the flu

What causes pain in the eyes?

Eye pain during the flu is a common symptom. What causes pain in the eyes? Here doctors highlight several factors. The first reason is that the influenza virus can enter the body not only through the respiratory system and mouth, but also through the eyes. In this case, the infection settles on the mucous membrane of the eyes, which is why they begin to hurt with all the subsequent symptoms in the form of lacrimation and photophobia.

An important cause of eye pain that develops with the flu is sinusitis. This is the most common complication that occurs with a viral disease. Sinusitis is a disease that develops in one or more paranasal sinuses at the same time. Depending on the area affected, different symptoms are provoked.

With sinusitis, the nasal mucosa swells, which provokes inflammation of the lacrimal canals, pain in the periocular and frontal area, and increased lacrimation. It is better to eliminate the disease with the help of a doctor who will determine the exact location of the infection and begin effective treatment. If treatment is avoided, the infection will spread, which can lead to a type of sinusitis called sinusitis. And here you can’t do without radical treatment.

However, when treating sinusitis on your own, you can use the following recommendations:

To relieve inflammation, you can add a little sea salt to the chamomile decoction and rinse your nose with it.
To ease breathing and relieve swelling in the nose, you should take antihistamines.
To eliminate mucus and a large number of microbes in the nose, some of which are the microorganisms that provoked the disease, you should rinse your nose daily.
Homeopathic medicines are suitable for gentle treatment.

Self-medication is allowed for 3-5 days. If during this time the symptoms do not subside or do not disappear at all, then you should seek medical help, as otherwise complications will develop.

Prevention

To prevent the development of complications in the eye area from influenza infection, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

timely treatment of viral and infectious diseases;
use of antibacterial therapy for complications;
hardening in the form of visiting the pool, walking barefoot at home, drinking cold water;
private walks in the fresh air.

Influenza is a viral disease that often causes complications in the organs of hearing and vision. It is important to start treatment on time to prevent this from happening. Complex therapy is used aimed at eliminating all negative symptoms for the body.

Eyes hurt with the flu - why, causes, prognosis

Various flu symptoms overcome a person during an exacerbation of the disease. This viral disease manifests itself in fever, pain in the throat when swallowing, runny nose, aching joints and muscles. But the symptom that becomes especially noteworthy is when the eyes hurt. In this case, photophobia and lacrimation may occur, which both adults and children complain about.

In order not to worry and not to aggravate your health status with your worries, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the causes of this phenomenon. Here you should find out on the website ogrippe.com how the flu progresses and why pain in the eyes occurs.

The flu itself is an insidious viral disease. If the infection does not receive a worthy rebuff from the body, then the virus multiplies not only at the site of the infection, but also tends to spread to other organs. This is why the eyes may hurt, which turns out to be a consequence of complications of the disease.

What causes pain in the eyes?

Eye pain during the flu is a common symptom. What causes pain in the eyes? Here doctors highlight several factors.

The first reason is that the influenza virus can enter the body not only through the respiratory system and mouth, but also through the eyes.

In this case, the infection settles on the mucous membrane of the eyes, which is why they begin to hurt with all the subsequent symptoms in the form of lacrimation and photophobia.

With sinusitis, the nasal mucosa swells, which provokes inflammation of the lacrimal canals, pain in the periocular and frontal area, and increased lacrimation.

It is better to eliminate the disease with the help of a doctor who will determine the exact location of the infection and begin effective treatment.

If treatment is avoided, the infection will spread, which can lead to a type of sinusitis called sinusitis. And here you can’t do without radical treatment.

However, when treating sinusitis on your own, you can use the following recommendations:

To relieve inflammation, you can add a little sea salt to the chamomile decoction and rinse your nose with it.
To ease breathing and relieve swelling in the nose, you should take antihistamines.
To eliminate mucus and a large number of microbes in the nose, some of which are the microorganisms that provoked the disease, you should rinse your nose daily.
Homeopathic medicines are suitable for gentle treatment.

Self-medication is allowed for 3-5 days. If during this time the symptoms do not subside or do not disappear at all, then you should seek medical help, as otherwise complications will develop.

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Other causes of eye pain

Not only sinusitis and infection through the eyes become the causes of corresponding pain in them during the flu. Other causes that may cause eye pain should be considered.

When the temperature rises, pain naturally occurs in various parts of the body. With the flu, painful sensations may occur in the eyes. Photophobia also appears along with them. This symptom is especially pronounced in children.

If pain occurs in the eyes with elevated temperature, all efforts should be made to reduce it. When the temperature normalizes, the symptoms will go away. In the meantime, these tips will help relieve pain:

Darkening the window or closing the curtain.
Performing gymnastics for the eyes.
No eye strain. Refusal to watch TV, read books and play games on a computer/smartphone.

Another symptom that occurs during the flu is migraine, which causes eye pain. Migraine occurs in people who are prone to headaches. With the flu, the pain intensifies, so it can only be relieved after the migraine has passed. This can be done by resting yourself and taking painkillers.

Another complication of influenza is viral conjunctivitis. The flu has already weakened the patient’s immunity, which allows new infections to enter the body. Viral conjunctivitis manifests itself in pain, pain and purulent discharge from the eyes. The main methods of treatment are eye drops and special rinsing solutions.

A mild form of viral conjunctivitis can be eliminated very quickly - in 3-4 days. However, if complications develop, it is better to consult a doctor, since self-treatment will be ineffective.

This cause is often observed in children who have had the flu. With weakened immunity, the virus can penetrate any organ. And at first this is accompanied by the following symptoms:

Sneezing.
Cough.
Aching in joints and muscles.
High temperature.
Heavy breathing.
Headache.
Inflammation of the respiratory tract.
Dizziness.

Individual reaction to general intoxication.

During the flu, the immune system intensively fights infection. This affects the condition of the blood, in which dead virus cells and protective antibodies begin to appear. This factor leads to the appearance of various symptoms, including sweating, body aches, loss of appetite, as well as pain in the eyes with photophobia and tearing.

It is necessary to cleanse the body of remnants of viruses, which will take time.

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To eliminate the flu, you need to go to a doctor who will prescribe treatment. Treating the flu on your own can lead to complications. Antiviral medications will be prescribed here, as well as medications that relieve symptoms.

It is better not to treat the disease, but to prevent its occurrence. Preventative measures will help here:

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes getting enough sleep, eating right, getting outdoors and exercising. The immune system will be strong, which will allow you to quickly cope with the disease even if infected by viruses.
Bed rest during the development of influenza. If you carry the disease on your feet, you can quickly provoke the development of complications.
Vaccination. A preventive vaccination that prepares the body for a viral attack will allow you to quickly cope with infection. Vaccinated people are less likely to get the flu than unvaccinated people.
Avoiding large crowds of people. This measure is effective during a flu epidemic. It is better not to go into closed spaces where people are sneezing and coughing.
Avoiding stress and enjoying life. Of course, this factor will not save you from viral infection. However, stress itself affects the strength of the immune system. But the joy of life will allow you to endure any illness.

If a person gets sick, which is accompanied by pain in the eyes, then you should give yourself time. Only when the flu is eliminated will the pain go away. In addition to medical recommendations, you should follow simple rules:

Drink plenty of warm liquid.
Ventilate the room twice a day.
Stick to bed rest.
Do not eat without appetite.
Rinse your nose with saline solutions daily.

To eliminate pain in the eyes, special drops are prescribed that have an antiviral effect. “Artificial tears” may also be prescribed, which should flush the canals and wash away accumulated mucus. When bacteria attach, antibacterial drops are prescribed.

To eliminate watery eyes, you can resort to lotions with various decoctions:

From chamomile. Lotions are made for the eyes from a decoction: 1 tsp. herbs for 1 cup of boiling water.
From tea. Brew large-leaf tea to medium strength and make lotions.
From rosehip. 2 tsp. chop the berries and add 200 g of water, put on fire to brew. Then leave for 30 minutes and apply lotions.
From chicory. 2 tbsp. l. mix flowers with 1 tbsp. l. marshmallow, 2 tbsp. l. horsetail and 2 tbsp. l. pink petals. Mixture in the amount of 3 tbsp. l. pour a glass of boiling water and cool. Apply eye lotions.
From dill. Squeeze the juice and moisten cotton pads with it, which are applied to the eyes.

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How is eye flu treated?

If treatment is started in a timely manner, the disease can last about a week; in some cases, recovery takes two weeks. Therapy includes a combination of medications - antipyretics, painkillers and local ones. Therapy must be carried out under the supervision of a doctor; there should be no independent attempts to cope with the problem, since delaying time can lead to loss of vision.

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Eye flu poses a serious health risk

Information began to appear in the media that German doctors began to increasingly register cases of infection with a new virus, which has already been dubbed the eye flu. In 2020, an eye flu epidemic was reported in Bonn. Already at that time, the seriousness of the problem became clear, since no antibiotics had any effect on those who became ill.

The causative agents of the disease have not been studied at this time. There is also no adequate therapy. Now the only thing that experts can talk about with confidence is methods of preventing infection.

You can become infected with eye flu directly through physical contact. For example, this could be a handshake where one person rubs their eyes and then extends their hand to you. Viruses quickly enter the eyes and begin their destructive activity. Door handles and handrails are also cited as a source of hypothetical danger due to the possibility of viruses remaining on surfaces.

Medicines aimed at treating influenza

There are medications that are narrowly aimed at treating influenza. These are the most effective means developed to destroy the influenza virus. However, these drugs will not be effective against other types of acute respiratory viral infections. If taken as a preventive measure during an epidemic, it is possible to prevent the disease. If you get the flu, they can significantly shorten the recovery period, for example:

Tamiflu. Approved for use from one year of age, pregnant and lactating women. Treatment should be started no later than 2 days from the onset of the disease. Adults are prescribed 75 mg twice for 5 days.
Relenza. The drug is for inhalation, approved for use from 5 years of age. It is recommended to do 2 inhalations twice a day for 5 days.

In addition to specific medications aimed only at treating influenza, it is possible to use antiviral drugs, which are quite effective not only against influenza, but also against acute respiratory viral infections. Among them, the most popular are the following:

Arbidol. Helps prevent the virus from entering the body, reduces intoxication, reduces the period of fever, speeds up recovery time, and prevents complications. Adults are recommended to drink 1.2 g every 6 hours, four times a day for 5 days.
Anaferon. Refers to homeopathic remedies that have an antiviral effect. It must be taken as soon as the first symptoms appear, according to the scheme: 1 tablet every 30 minutes, after which 3 more tablets must be taken after an equal amount of time. Then for 5 days, 1 tablet three times a day.
Amiksin. The drug effectively fights not only influenza, ARVI, but also hepatitis and herpes. Not allowed for use by pregnant and lactating women, as well as children under 7 years of age. In the first 2 days of the disease, it is recommended to take 0.125 g, in subsequent days 0.125 g every other day.

In addition to antiviral drugs, doctors recommend the use of antihistamines. These drugs reduce the possibility of an allergic reaction to the prescribed drugs. Another good reason for their use is the removal of swelling from the mucous membrane of the nose, throat, and bronchi. Taking antihistamines helps to significantly ease breathing and relieve inflammation. The most commonly prescribed drugs include:

Suprastin.
Tavegil.
Claritin.
Zyrtec.

Cough treatment

When you have the flu, a cough often appears. However, it is not recommended to take antitussive drugs at the onset of the disease, since the sputum formed in the bronchi must be released. It is important for the patient to do everything possible to prevent the cough from becoming dry.

Mucus and sputum must be coughed out. To keep your cough wet, you need to drink as much water as possible. It is good to do inhalations with a Nebulizer using saline. solution. Inhalations can be carried out every 4 hours, 3 times a day with physical therapy. 10 drops of Lazolvan should be added to the solution.

After the mucus has stopped coming out and the cough has become dry again, you can start taking cough medications. The most prescribed remedies are:

Mukaltin.
Bronholitin.
ACC.
Ambroxol.

Traditional medicine recommends rinsing with soda, since soda has a good disinfecting effect, it promotes the discharge of sputum and softens the mucous membrane. He also recommends doing inhalations with soda; you can supplement the soda solution with infusion of chamomile and sage.