There is a seasonal increased frequency of cases of acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) in the country. To this end, Uzbekistan Today reporter has interviewed the director of the Research Institute of Virology, professor Erkin Musabayev.
– Erkin Iskhakovich, how do you assess the epidemiological situation in the country?
– Nothing extraordinary is happening at the moment. There is a seasonal rise of the decease, but it is normal.
– The diagnosis of ARVI brings together a range of infectious diseases which in everyday life is most often referred to as the flu. Is it important to differentiate the disease in determining the treatment?
– Yes, indeed, it is accepted to make a diagnosis of ARVI – acute respiratory viral infection in medical practice. This is because besides influenza virus the disease causes a parainfluenza virus, adenovirus infection, respiratory syncytial virus and other infections.
Differential diagnosis of the decease’s pathogenic agent is carried out only for research purposes; it is not carried out in the treatment of patients, so far as in real conditions it is absolutely unjustified.
And all of these diseases are treated is very simple – you need to survive four or five days, … and the disease should pass… it does not need any medication. The most specific recommendation is to drink plenty of fluids.
– Why do doctors most often prescribe antibiotics in such cases?
– Those who strictly follow the instructions of the diagnosis and treatment standards, never do that. To prescribe antibiotics for the all with ARVI is the faulty practice which leads to serious consequences, in particular, it reduces the effectiveness of antibiotics in cases where they are really needed.
In cases of ARVI the antibiotics should be prescribed frequently for ill children, patients with impaired health and suspected pneumonia. If the patient does not recover within 4-5 days, the doctor must find the reasons for such a condition of the patient and adjust the treatment. The ARVI usually passes within a week.
At the same time I would like to once again draw attention to the fact that the people should not carry out self-medication, it can be dangerous for the health. When the first symptoms of malaise appear it is necessary to call the doctor at home and be treated under his supervision.
– Is it true that vaccination is the most reliable way to protect against the flu? How can we get this preventive procedure?
– The vaccination is really the most reliable way to protect against influenza today. In Uzbekistan it is entirely based on epidemiological indications of persons at risk. It mainly contains representatives of the professions who are constantly in contact with lots of people. The rest are vaccinated as an option at vaccination centers.
– And how effectively is the vaccine applied in our country? Does somebody check it? It is said that it will be effective only if it is created taking into account the strains which are circulating in the environment.
– Yes, such studies have been recently completed at our institution. Researches were carried out with the assistance of foreign experts. We studied the complete genome of influenza viruses existing in our country. The results showed that all the vaccines that are used in Uzbekistan, are effective in the treatment of influenza.
– What do you think about a quarantine for influenza?
– The quarantine measures would be much more effective if the masks were not on the neck for the sake of appearances, as it is supposed to be done – on the face and change them every two hours. We can significantly increase the effectiveness of these activities if we use periodically special hand disinfection alcohol-glycerine facilities that are now available at almost every shop, every supermarket. So, in point of fact, the quarantine means measures aimed at prevention of contact with the infection.
