Frequent colds and weakened immunity are by no means considered a rarity, but rather a regularity. Interferon for children helps solve this problem. This drug is considered a fairly effective immunomodulating agent, which is used both for treatment and for prevention.
Interferon for children
Interferon is a protein preparation that is made from white blood cells from donated blood. White blood cells, or white blood cells, are precisely those components of the blood that are responsible for most immune responses.
This medicine is released in the form of a powder, which is contained in ampoules. Each such ampoule contains approximately two milligrams of the drug.
Spreading throughout the body, interferon slows down the rate of development of infectious diseases of viral origin. It also stimulates the work of white blood cells and macrophages. This means that the drug itself does not destroy viruses - it helps the body fight the infection on its own. Thanks to this, this tool enhances the level of immune defense.
How to dilute interferon in ampoules? For children, as well as for adults, this drug must be properly diluted. The rules here are very simple. Open the ampoule and mix its contents with two milliliters of warm (with a temperature of no higher than 37 degrees) water. The result is a solution for instillation and inhalation with a characteristic reddish color. The liquid can be stored for no more than two days, but only in a cold place, preferably in the refrigerator.
Interferon for children: instructions for use
The exact dosage and regimen will be prescribed by your pediatrician. But there are some general recommendations:
- As a prophylaxis, the drug can be used twice a day, instilling five drops in each nostril. Make sure that the interval between the procedures was at least six hours.
- If the child has already managed to catch the flu or some other catarrhal disease, then the schedule of admission must be changed. In each nostril, it is necessary to instill 5 drops. The interval between procedures should be from one to two hours. At least five instillations must be carried out per day.
There is another way to use the drug - this is inhalation. To prepare a solution for inhalation, mix the contents of three ampoules of the drug with 10 milliliters of distilled (purified) warm water. You can use any inhaler. A child can inhale vapor both through the nose and through the mouth - the effect will be the same. At least two procedures must be performed per day.
It is worth noting one important fact - with too frequent and prolonged use of interferon, the child's body gets used to the drug and no longer responds to it. In this case, consult your doctor about similar medicines.
"Interferon" for children: contraindications
Despite the fact that this tool is often prescribed even to newborn children, it has a number of contraindications. The drug should be used very carefully if the patient has a malfunction in the central nervous system, kidney disease, cardiovascular system or liver, as well as in the presence of an individual allergy.
"Interferon" for children and possible side effects
In fact, the drug can cause a lot of side effects, although they occur quite rarely. Your child’s body may respond to this medicine with nausea, vomiting, a rash, itching, or swelling. In some cases, children complain of frequent headaches, dizziness, sleep disturbances (including insomnia at night), and fatigue. Sometimes there are problems with stool, loss of appetite, a sharp loss of body weight.