Everyone wants their child to be healthy. Therefore, most of us in the cold season, as well as during the period of active growth of the incidence rate, strive to protect our baby as much as possible from the possible infection with the flu or ARI.
Many mothers use antiviral syrups to get rid of the disease. Finding low-cost effective medicines for children today is very difficult. Medicines of this group are in great demand, dispensed without a doctor’s prescription, which contributes to overpricing.
How do antiviral agents work?
These drugs are divided into several groups according to the spectrum of exposure:
- Some affect the virus, as well as its ability to reproduce. Such drugs, as a rule, have a huge number of side effects.
- Others have an immunomodulatory property, they stimulate the body's defenses to invade viruses.
- The third large group of antiviral medicines contains interferon - a protein that is formed during the immune response, and also takes an active part in blocking viruses with antibodies.
Benefits
Antiviral drugs in syrups have many positive aspects:
- Ease of use. That is why mothers often call syrups "baby". The manufacturer of the drug did its best, so all antiviral drugs in liquid form have a pleasant taste, aroma.
- Universality. Syrup medicine can be given to the smallest patients, including children up to one year old. Some products can be diluted with tea or water, so that it is easier for the baby to use them.
disadvantages
Among the negative points, there are several nuances that mothers need to know:
- Contraindications Syrup, although they call it "children's medicine", has certain disadvantages, for example, sugar in its structure. Sweet medicines are not recommended for patients prone to diathesis, as well as allergic reactions.
- Incorrect dosing. With this problem, as a rule, does not arise, because the bottles are equipped with special measuring caps.
When are antiviral drugs used?
Frequent use of antiviral agents can cause "laziness" of immunity, that is, the protective functions of the child's body will cease to fulfill their duties.
Such medicines, as a rule, are prescribed as part of complex therapy for the following ailments:
- Influenza (an acute disease that can affect the upper and lower respiratory tract, accompanied by severe intoxication).
- Measles (a viral lesion that is characterized by severe symptoms, as well as inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and upper respiratory organs).
- Chicken pox.
- Hepatitis (inflammatory liver disease, usually of viral origin).
- Immunodeficiency of various origins (violations of immunological reactivity due to the loss of one or more components of the protective apparatus or non-specific factors closely interacting with it).
- Herpetic infection (a chronic recurrent infection that is provoked by the herpes simplex virus, characterized by a predominant lesion of integumentary tissues and nerve cells).
- Infectious mononucleosis (acute viral disease, which is characterized by fever, damage to the throat, liver, spleen).
In addition, syrups can be prescribed by a medical specialist for preventive purposes to prevent influenza and SARS during a seasonal increase in the incidence of illness, as well as if there are already infected people around the child.
Doctors do not recommend treating a small patient with antiviral syrups for more than two courses per year.
Efficiency
Most manufacturers indicate that their drug neutralizes the unpleasant symptoms of influenza and SARS within three to five days. But it’s just so many days that the baby’s own body needs to be able to eliminate the virus without medical support.
Homeopathic medicines, in which the active components are contained in such low concentrations, that it is not possible to verify their effectiveness in the laboratory, raise even more questions. For this reason, many doctors believe that homeopathic medicines do not have any positive effect on treatment.
Overview
The following drugs are considered the most effective and well-known antiviral drugs for treating children:
- Tsitovir-3.
- "Normamed."
- "Orvirem."
- Algirem.
- "Immunoflazide."
Before using any of the above drugs, you must familiarize yourself with the instructions for use in more detail, and also consult a doctor for advice.
"Orvirem"
This antiviral syrup for children by medical specialists, as a rule, is not prescribed for babies up to one year old. The main active component of the drug is rimantadine.
The pharmaceutical organization that produces this medication claims that Orvire has enhanced antiviral effects. In addition, it activates the body's immune forces, and also helps to produce its own interferon.
Syrup "Orvirem" is available in bottles with a special syringe for convenient dosing. It is not necessary to breed and measure anything at home, all the necessary concentrations are described in the instructions for use, and the divisions are indicated on the syringe.
The drug is not recommended to be used in conjunction with antipyretic drugs, since the latter greatly reduce the antiviral effect.
According to the instructions for use, Orvirem is given to babies after meals. Children from 1 year to 3 years, as a rule, are recommended to receive 10 milliliters of syrup up to three times a day. For small patients from 3 to 7 years, 15 ml of the drug are prescribed for use. Children from 7 years old are recommended to take 20 milliliters of Orvirem up to three times a day, depending on the severity of the disease.
Tsitovir-3
This is the most famous and popular drug, which contains three components. "Tsitovir-3" - children's antiviral syrup with chicken, shown on the package. The main active substances of the drug are benzadol, ascorbic acid and thymogen.
The drug can be purchased in two dosage forms - syrup with a measuring spoon or powder for the manufacture of a solution. The powder is suitable for those people who suffer from diabetes mellitus, and those for whom ready-made syrup is prohibited by contraindications.
According to the instructions for use for the Citovir-3 Syrup for Children, benzadol hydrochloride (the active substance) activates the formation of its own interferons in the child's body. Syrup can be given to babies who have reached one year of age.
Babies from one to three years old no more than 2 milliliters per procedure, small patients from three to six years old - 4 ml, children from six to ten years old need to take no more than 8 milliliters at a time. The number of procedures per day and the duration of therapy should be determined by a medical professional.
According to the instructions for use for Citovir syrup for children, it is recommended that the patient take it thirty minutes before eating, no more than three times a day.
Algirem
This medicine must be given to babies from one year old. The main active ingredient is amantadine. The preparation is produced in the form of a ready-to-drink syrup. Give it to a small patient after a meal, preferably a tool to drink with water or juice.
The frequency of use of Algirem syrup varies from one to three times a day. For babies from one year to three years, a single dosage should not exceed 10 milliliters. From three to six years - no more than 15 ml per application, and children from 6 years are recommended to receive no more than 20 milliliters of syrup.
"Immunoflazide"
This medication is prescribed for babies up to one year old. The structure of the medicine includes only natural components. Children are recommended to use the medication twice a day thirty minutes before a meal.
Children under one year of age are prescribed to receive no more than 0.5 milliliters per use, from one to two years - 1 ml each, children from two to four years old - 2 milliliters, small patients from four to six years old are allowed to use no more than 4 ml per admission, from six to ten years - 5-6 milliliters. The drug is dispensed from pharmacies in the form of a ready-made syrup.
"Normomed"
The drug is an immunostimulating agent with antiviral activity. Available as a syrup for oral use. With proper use of the drug, the incidence of viral infections decreases, as well as the severity and duration of the disease.
Normamed antiviral syrup is forbidden to be given to children under three years of age (with a weight of less than 15-20 kilograms). Adolescents from twelve years of age are recommended to use 50 milligrams per kilogram of weight, but daily dosing should not exceed 4 g. The usual concentration of syrup is up to 60-80 milliliters per day. Children from three to twelve years old are prescribed 50 milligrams per kilogram per day up to four times a day.
The duration of therapy:
- Acute illness - up to two weeks. After eliminating the symptoms of the disease, the use of the drug must be carried out for another two days.
- Chronic diseases By permission of the doctor, several courses of therapy are carried out for five to ten days with a time interval of eight days.
- Maintenance therapy can last up to one month, while daily dosing can be reduced to 500-1000 milligrams.
- Infections that are provoked by the herpes virus. As prescribed by a medical specialist, several courses of treatment are carried out from five to ten days.
Price
The average cost of antiviral drugs in Russia is quite affordable for most people. It starts at 200 rubles for the most inexpensive medication. “Tsitovir-3” costs about 380 rubles, “Orvire” - from 250 rubles. An expensive syrup is considered - "Immunoflazid." Its price starts from 490 rubles per bottle. "Normomed" is also not cheap, it costs about 890 rubles.