Influenza: Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention - V.D. Moskaliuk 2010

Preface

Influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) are among the most widespread human diseases, consistently surpassing all other infectious pathologies combined in frequency over many years. They account for at least 50–75% of the total infectious morbidity Structure (Zh.I. Vozianova, 2001; M.A. Andrinchyn, V.S. Kopcha, 2000; S.O. Kramariov et al., 2003; I.V. Bohadelnikov et al., 2005; L. Kaiser, 1999). However, even these high figures do not reflect the true prevalence of respiratory infections.

Annually in Ukraine, between 10 and 14 million people suffer from influenza and other acute respiratory infections, accounting for 25–30% of total morbidity (A.M. Shcherbinska, A.O. Rudenko, 1997).

Influenza remains one of the unresolved problems of the 20th century, primarily due to the genetic resources of the virus itself (V.M. Kozko et al., 2000). As is well known, high-risk groups include individuals with immunodeficiencies, healthcare workers, public service and transportation personnel, staff of educational institutions, and military contingents (H.I. Karpukhin, 2001).

The suppression of nonspecific and immunological reactivity caused by influenza and other ARVIs leads to the exacerbation of underlying chronic conditions as well as The Development of secondary bacterial complications, making The problem of Treatment particularly significant and urgent (V.I. Isakov et al., 2000; F.I. Ershov, 2003).

Treating patients with influenza and other ARVIs presents considerable difficulties. The arsenal of therapeutic agents is extremely diverse and encompasses virtually all possible ways to influence the infectious process, yet it often fails to yield the desired results (B.M. Dykyi, I.H. Hryzhak, 2001). The Use of novel antiviral chemical drugs does not always produce the expected effect (V.M. Kozko, 2004; W.C. Tan, X. Xiang, 2003), and the same applies to immunomodulatory and pathogenetic therapies.

A promising approach in treating these patients is the use of interferons (IF), which has recently attracted significantly increased attention (A.L. Vorontsova, 1996; K.D. Ryman, W.B. Klimstra, 2000; A.O. Rudenko, 2001; V.D. Moskaliuk, 2006). Parenteral administration of IF preparations has contributed to the regression of clinical manifestations (A.O. Rudenko et al., 1996). However, greater success has been achieved through the aerosol administration of medicinal products in respiratory tract diseases (Yu.S. Vasylenko, 2001; V.D. Moskaliuk, 2006).

Further study is also required for Proteflazid (PF), a domestic plant-derived antiviral and immunotropic drug that has already proven effective in a range of infectious diseases, particularly ARVI (V.D. Moskaliuk, 2007). Microwave Resonance therapy (microwave therapy) is likewise effective in ARVI patients, as it enhances the body's adaptive and defense capabilities (V.D. Moskaliuk, 2007). The effects of combined aerosol interferon-alpha, PF, and microwave therapy in the complex treatment of influenza and other ARVIs have been investigated, clarifying their impact on the clinical course of these diseases, the functional state of The Cardiovascular system, endogenous intoxication, and immune defense.

To date, no monographs on this topic have been published in Ukraine.

The author hopes that this monograph will be useful to all professionals involved in treating influenza patients—infectious disease specialists, intensive care physicians, internists, general practitioners/family physicians, interns, postgraduate students, master's students, clinical residents, as well as senior-year students of higher medical educational institutions.