Parainfluenza Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Parainfluenza is a disease caused by a group of human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs). There are four classes of viruses that fall into this group. Each virus will give different symptoms and diseases. However, all of these viruses can cause infection in both the upper and lower respiratory tract.
The symptoms of parainfluenza are similar to those of the common cold. If the cases are mild, the virus is often misdiagnosed. In general, parainfluenza does not require special treatment and can gradually heal by itself in those who have good immune systems. However, if the sufferer has a weak immune system, then a parainfluenza attack can be at risk of becoming a deadly infection.
Symptoms
Symptoms of parainfluenza usually appear on the second to seventh day after infection. The four viruses will give symptoms similar to the common cold, such as:
- fever
- cough
- have a cold
- nasal congestion
- chest pain
- sore throat
- hard to breathe
- a lot
- hard to breathe
In general, the symptoms of parainfluenza are not severe, so they are not a cause for concern in healthy adults. However, symptoms can become lethal if parainfluenza infects infants, the elderly, or those with compromised immune systems. If you find symptoms that are getting worse in the three groups, immediately seek medical help or see a doctor to get the right treatment.
Reason
There are four groups of viruses that can cause parainfluenza, namely:
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HPIV 1
HPIV 1 is the leading cause of whooping cough or croup in children. Croup is an airway disease that causes swelling of the vocal cords and other parts of the upper airway.
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HPIV 2
HPIV 2 is also a frequent cause of croup in children. However, this type is not as common as HPV 1.
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HPIV 3
HPIV 3 is often associated with pneumonia and bronchiolitis. Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs. While bronchiolitis is an inflammation of the smallest airways or bronchioles in the lungs.
The exact time of infection with this virus is unknown. Most likely the risk of transmission occurs on the third to tenth day from when symptoms appear. Even in rare cases, virus symptoms can be seen in the third to fourth week.
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HPIV 4
HPIV 4 is the rarest type.
There are several ways HPIV infects a person. The virus can live on hard surfaces for up to ten hours. So, if you touch a hard, contaminated surface – such as a doorknob, banister, elevator button – then touch your nose or mouth, you can become infected. The virus can also be spread through direct contact with sufferers.
Diagnosis
Doctors can make a diagnosis of parainfluenza from symptoms and physical examination. Usually, if the sufferer is not among those who are at high risk or have a fairly good immune system, the type of HPIV is not too important.
However, in patients who are at high risk, doctors need to find out the type of virus either through a physical examination or supporting examinations. The doctor can take a throat or nose sample for examination in the laboratory. A chest X-ray or CT scan can also be done to further check the condition of the airway system.
Treatment
There is no medicine that can eliminate the parainfluenza virus from the body. Medication will only help relieve symptoms. Drugs that can be used are analgesics such as aspirin or acetaminophen.
Keep in mind to avoid giving aspirin to children and adolescents. It is feared, the combination of the virus and the administration of this drug can cause the deadly Reye’s syndrome.
Prevention
Parainfluenza can be prevented by keeping yourself and your surroundings clean. It is also important to pay attention to the hygiene of children or elderly people who are under your supervision or responsibility as healthy adults.
Make it a habit to diligently wash your hands regularly and clean surfaces that can be a place for viruses to live. Also, avoid parainfluenza sufferers so as not to get infected. Until now there is no vaccine that can prevent HPIV infection.