The immune system of babies is not well developed. Therefore, it is not always able to resist a variety of viral attacks. Doctors recommend to parents of such crumbs to maintain and strengthen immunity. Much attention is paid to hardening, sports. In addition, the child should eat food containing all the vitamins and minerals necessary for its growth and development. For some children, such measures are not enough. In such cases, the doctor may prescribe immunostimulating agents.
What are they needed for?
If the baby is sick for a long time and often, any diseases are quite difficult, there is reason to think about tools that help increase immunity. To improve the body's resistance to various infections, general measures are used. Sometimes doctors recommend taking immunostimulating agents.
Common measures include:
- hardening (it can be started from 3-4 years);
- multivitamin preparations (such complexes are recommended by a pediatrician).
Immunostimulating drugs should be prescribed only by a doctor. He completely examines the baby. He will carefully study all the records about the diseases of the child. And only if the baby's immunodeficiency is confirmed, will they be prescribed the appropriate drugs. In a different situation, the doctor will advise resorting to general measures.
Immunostimulating agents for children increase the activity of the body's own defense. They improve resistance to diseases and infections.
Drug classification
The following varieties of immunostimulating drugs that are used for children are distinguished:
- interferons ("Grippferon", "Viferon");
- interferon inducers (Amiksin, Arbidol, Cycloferon);
- preparations from the thymus gland (“Timostimulin”, “Vilosen”);
- herbal medicines (Echinacea, Immunal);
- bacterial agents (Ribomunil, IRS-19, Imudon).
Parents should remember that such drugs must be used very carefully. Improper or prolonged use of them can seriously undermine the protective forces of the child's body.
When is it necessary to take drugs?
It is reliably known that with all inflammatory reactions, immunity plays a decisive role in the course of pathology. A strong body quickly copes with any disease.
It is almost impossible to protect a child from viruses. Therefore, the most common childhood illness is SARS. However, some babies get sick for a very long time. Others suffer colds almost imperceptibly and painlessly. It is in such cases that it is determined whether the child is weak or has strong immunity. However, do not forget that only a doctor can confirm a child’s pain.
Doctors prescribe immunostimulating agents in the following cases:
- A child often has recurrent viral, bacterial or fungal infections. They do not respond well to conventional methods of treatment.
- The baby suffered colds more than 6 times a year.
- Infectious pathologies are very difficult. Often there are a number of complications.
- Any illnesses drag on for a long time. The body responds very poorly to treatment.
- Conventional measures to increase immunity do not provide a positive result.
- During the diagnosis, immune deficiency was detected.
It is very important to understand that immunostimulating drugs are not a panacea for any ailments. These are medicines with contraindications that can cause unwanted reactions.
Effective drugs
If the crumbs have noticed at least a few of the above symptoms, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Having examined the baby and confirming the presence of immunodeficiency, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate medication. They will increase the protective properties of the child's body.
Doctors provide a list of immunostimulating drugs that can be prescribed for children:
- "Immunal";
- ginseng tincture ;
- Echinacea
- tincture of Schisandra chinensis;
- "Imudon";
- Ribomunil;
- "Lycopid";
- Derinat;
- Amiksin;
- "Irs-19";
- "Arbidol";
- interferons: Viferon, Grippferon, Cycloferon;
- "Vilosen";
- "Timostimulin";
- "Isoprinosine";
- "Broncho-munal";
- Pentoxyl.
Special warnings
Any of these medicines perfectly strengthens the immune system. However, you must use it with extreme caution. In the case of prolonged use of such drugs, they can be harmful. Indeed, under their action, the body is seriously weakened.
It is important to understand that immunostimulating agents will only benefit if the dosage and the regimen of the medication have been correctly prescribed for the small patient. Consider the most popular.
The drug "Arpeflu"
This is a drug that is part of the group of immunostimulants and is intended for the prevention and treatment of diseases provoked by the influenza virus. The Arpeflu medicine, whose price is quite low, has an excellent antiviral effect. In addition, it stimulates protective reactions and promotes the production of interferon. As a result of such exposure, the body can even fight those viruses that have already invaded the mucous cells. It helps to shorten the duration of the disease, reduces the duration of the pathology.
Indications for the use of Arpeflu are:
- a cold caused by influenza viruses;
- ARVI prevention;
- immunodeficiency states;
- chronic bronchitis (in complex therapy);
- herpetic infection;
- prevention of complications after surgery.
You should not use this tool in case of individual hypersensitivity to it. The medicine is contraindicated in children under 3 years of age. Pregnant and lactating women can use the drug, but need an individual approach and purpose.
Side effects are very rare. These may be allergic reactions:
In most cases, Arpeflu is well tolerated by patients.
The price of this tool is about 56 rubles.
Echinacea Tincture
Herbal medicine is a good immunostimulant. It perfectly strengthens defenses, inhibits the activity of herpes viruses, flu. It is able to protect against many pathogenic bacteria.
Echinacea is shown (the price of tincture is quite acceptable) for the treatment and prevention of viral, colds, bacterial pathologies of various etiologies. Appointment of such a drug in case of immunodeficiency is appropriate . Sometimes it is recommended for children after regular physical exertion in order to strengthen the body.
Contraindications to the reception of this setting are:
- pregnancy;
- age up to 7 years;
- lactation period;
- autoimmune pathologies;
- diseases of the liver, kidneys;
- allergic reactions.
The drug is easily tolerated by almost any organism. Side effects were observed only in isolated cases. Among the manifestations met:
- chills;
- symptoms of dyspepsia;
- allergic reactions to the skin.
Reception of tincture does not require refusal from transport management. Since the effect on concentration is not Echinacea.
The price of tincture is approximately 157 rubles.
The medicine "Viferon"
This is an excellent immunostimulating drug with antiviral effect. The medicine is available in 3 forms:
The drug Viferon is used for children in the form of rectal suppositories. Due to this, the medicine does not have a negative effect and causes very few side effects.
This drug is prescribed for the following infections in complex therapy:
- ARVI;
- flu;
- bacterial uncomplicated pathologies;
- herpes;
- sepsis;
- meningitis;
- chronic hepatitis of a viral nature.
The medicine “Viferon” can be used for children from birth. Such a drug is suitable even for premature babies.
The only contraindication to the use of the drug is individual sensitivity to this drug.
Among the side effects, itching and skin rash can sometimes occur. Such reactions are extremely rare and are reversible.
The price of the drug varies from 230 rubles to 450.
The drug "Arbidol"
This medicine is an excellent antiviral immunostimulating agent. The drug is only available in tablet form.
The tool is intended for the treatment and prevention of the following pathologies:
- flu, SARS;
- colds complicated by pneumonia, bronchitis;
- immunodeficiency states;
- herpetic infection;
- Chronical bronchitis.
The drug is contraindicated for use in such cases:
- hypersensitivity to the drug;
- cardiovascular pathology;
- ailments of the liver, kidneys;
- age up to 3 years.
Often, Arbidol therapy is very well tolerated by the body. Pills extremely rarely provoke any side effects. Allergic reactions can sometimes occur. But, as a rule, they are observed in isolated cases.
It is undesirable to take this drug during pregnancy. Such a drug can only be prescribed by the attending physician after the ratio of the predicted benefit and the risk of developing pathologies in the fetus.
The price of this tool averages 164 rubles.
The medicine "Immunal"
This is an excellent tool with anti-inflammatory, antiviral, immunostimulating properties. The main component of the drug is echinacea. Quite often, the drug “Immunal” is prescribed for children.
Instructions for use recommend the use of this medicine in the following cases:
- stimulation of immunity with influenza, acute respiratory viral infections, herpes;
- frequent colds as a result of weakened immunity;
- intoxication of various origin;
- psycho-emotional overload;
- prevention of acute respiratory viral infections, influenza in epidemics;
- complex therapy of bronchitis, pyelonephritis, arthritis.
The drug is prohibited for use in pathologies accompanied by immunity disorders:
- autoimmune diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, joints;
- tuberculosis;
- leukemia;
- AIDS.
The medicine is not prescribed for crumbs up to one year.
You can buy the drug in almost any pharmacy. The cost of this tool varies from 225 to 295 rubles.