When a child has signs of a cold, each mother will try to alleviate these symptoms with antiviral drugs, because they are excellent in fighting infections. One of the most popular drugs is considered to be children's "Arbidol". Parents tend to treat this medicine differently. Someone believes that this drug should be used at the first symptoms of the disease, and some completely refuse medical treatment, preferring alternative methods.
In fact, Arbidol for children can be given even to the smallest toddlers. It has almost no adverse reactions and is well tolerated by the growing body of the child. To verify the effectiveness of this medication, it is necessary to carefully study its properties, as well as instructions for use.
Properties of Arbidol
This drug has an antiviral effect. It increases the body's production of a natural protein called interferon, which is responsible for confronting the virus. Its task is to eliminate as many harmful cells as possible, as well as develop immunity to the causative agents of the disease. Children's form of "Arbidol" increases the activity of cells that protect the immune system from infections. The main goal of the drug is to prevent microbes that settle on healthy tissues of the body during infection.
Many parents are worried about the question: "At what age are children" Arbidol "appointed by pediatricians?" All doctors are unanimous that you can take this medicine only from 3 years. It is after reaching this age that a child can consciously swallow tablets and drink syrup prepared from powder.
After treatment with the children's Arbidol, the baby is much less likely to get sick, and the healing process itself begins to come many times faster. Taking this drug helps to strengthen the immune system and reduce the level of intoxication of the body. Thanks to the medicine, cell membranes are enveloped in a thin film that protects them from viruses.
Forms of release of children's "Arbidol"
In drugstores you can see several types of this drug:
- Tablets. Children's "Arbidol" in this form can be in a dosage of 50, 100 or 200 mg of active substance for each dragee. Beige or white shade tablets are available. Several blisters are sold packed in a cardboard box. Each may contain from 10 to 30 tablets.
- Powder. It is bought for the preparation of a drinking solution in the form of a sweet syrup. The contents of the medicine package are small-sized granules. Manufacturers place the powder in a dark, glass container, which is sold in a cardboard box. In the kit there is always a measuring spoon, as well as instructions for the children's "Arbidol". 5 ml of the prepared liquid will contain 25 mg of the active substance.
- Capsules This form of release, like tablets, is sold in a dosage of 50, 100 and 200 mg of the drug per capsule. Each pack usually contains 10 to 40 capsules. Children's "Arbidol", produced in this form, is difficult to swallow due to its large size, so capsules are not recommended for young children. It is better for babies to give syrup prepared from children's "Arbidol" in the form of a powder.
Before you buy this drug in a pharmacy, you should consult a doctor and carefully study the detailed instructions for the children's "Arbidol".
Indications for the medicine
According to the information provided by the manufacturer in the instructions, this medication can be given to those babies who are over two years old. After 14 years, doctors can prescribe "Arbidol Maximum", suitable only for adults. Take this medicine in the following cases:
- For the prevention of colds during the epidemic.
- During treatment of acute respiratory viral infections, influenza, as well as other diseases caused by infection.
- With damage to the respiratory tract.
- For the treatment of diseases caused by infection of the stomach or intestines.
- With the complex treatment of diseases that affect the ENT organs.
- With relapse of viral diseases.
- With bronchitis.
Most often, this drug is used to treat acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections and influenza. Prescribe children's "Arbidol" with rotavirus and adenovirus. In any case, before giving the child this medicine, it is first necessary to obtain the approval of a pediatrician. Most likely, just pills will not be enough to eliminate the disease in the shortest possible time. The doctor will not only give a prescription for the purchase of this medication, but also draw up a list of actions that will help the child’s immunity recover faster after the disease.
Side effects from "Arbidol" and contraindications
This drug is well tolerated, but this only happens if the dosage does not exceed the required rate. That is why it is very important not to neglect the trip to the doctor. If you do not adhere to the instructions for the children's "Arbidol", complications such as:
- Headache.
- Persistent nausea.
- Trouble sleeping.
- The appearance of weakness, apathy.
- Severe vomiting.
In addition to the above complications, an allergic skin reaction may occur from Arbidol. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the child and at the first symptoms of adverse reactions, stop giving the medicine.
All parents should remember that in spite of the good composition of the children's “Arbidol” they should not treat babies who are under 2 years old. Suspension and tablets prepared from powder are recommended to be given only from the specified age. It should be borne in mind that the baby should be able to swallow whole dragees well. Crushing and chewing tablets is not allowed.
Particular care should be taken for those parents who are going to treat a child suffering from diabetes. They should not be given drugs containing sugar. The same applies to those children who have fructose intolerance. The following pathologies are considered a direct contraindication to treatment with "Arbidol":
- Kidney problems.
- Liver disease.
- Disorders of the heart.
- Vascular problems.
Despite the contraindications, children's "Arbidol" is one of the most effective drugs aimed at combating viral infection. Compared with other analogues, it has a small list of adverse reactions and is completely non-addictive. Based on the many reviews of the children's "Arbidol", we can conclude that this tool really has excellent tolerance. Doctors say that this medicine rarely causes an allergic reaction, and is also great for the treatment and prevention of many diseases.
Instructions for use baby syrup
Pediatricians recommend giving children “Arbidol” in the form of syrup for small children. It is prepared from powder, which is sold in a glass tube with a capacity of 125 ml. The powder usually has a pleasant fruit aroma. After diluting it with water, a cream or white suspension forms. Each bottle package has a measuring spoon, which helps to properly dose the medicine. To prepare the children's syrup "Arbidol" you need to follow the instructions:
- Boil and cool the water to room temperature.
- Add 30 ml of prepared water to the powder bottle.
- Close the lid and mix well, so that the contents become the same consistency.
- Add another 100 ml of water to the bottle.
- Shake well.
After performing the above steps, the suspension will be ready for use. Before taking the next dose of the medicine, the bottle with the syrup of the children's "Arbidol" should be shaken well.
Suspension rules
Each parent should know what dosage of the medicine can be given to the child, as well as how much treatment should be continued. The rules for taking a suspension of children's "Arbidol" depends on the condition of the body and the diagnosis made by the doctor. For preventive measures, the drug can be used up to 20 days in a row. Usually they begin to give it to the baby during the epidemic at school or kindergarten. In this case, syrup is given no more than 2 times a week. Dosage is determined depending on the age of the child.
When treating a viral disease, a suspension of children's "Arbidol" is given no longer than 5 days. The medicine must be drunk up to 4 times a day, after equal periods of time. For children aged 3-6 years, the drug is given in the amount of 10 ml, 6-12 years of 20 ml, from 12 years of age - 40 ml.
Instructions for use of tablets
The second, most common form of children's "Arbidol" is available in tablets. Small children swallow them much easier than large capsules. Therefore, after suspension, this type of medicine is in second place in popularity. Tablets and capsules are allowed for children over 3 years old. Crushing, chewing or breaking dragees is not recommended. Therefore, before drinking the children's "Arbidol", the child must learn to swallow tablets.
To treat an infectious disease, dragees should be given no longer than 5 days. The medication should be taken every 5-6 hours, so that the total number of doses reaches four times a day. The required daily dose of tablets depends on the age of the child:
- From 3 to 6 years - 50 mg at a time.
- From 6 to 12 years old - 100 mg.
- From 12 years old - 200 mg.
As a preventative measure, "Arbidol" can be given up to 2 times a day, 1 tablet. Such a dosage will be sufficient to prevent the occurrence of the disease. All parents need to remember when they need to give their baby Arbidol, before or after meals. If you forget about this important nuance, you can reduce the treatment process to nothing. Regardless of the type of release of the drug, the drug is given to children 20 minutes before eating. Drink it with a glass of clean water.
Analogues of the drug
Many parents are concerned about the question: "Are there any analogues of the children's Arbidol?". Fortunately, they are. Not each of them will cost less than this popular medicine, but the final result from their use will be the same as from Arbidol. Of the most popular analogues, the following drugs should be distinguished:
- "Groprinosin" in tablets of 500 mg.
- Suspension "Orvirem."
- Children's tablets "Anaferon".
- Capsules Tamiflu.
- Kagocel tablets.
- Homeopathic medicine "Aflubin".
All of the above medicines are suitable for the treatment of children aged 3-4 years. Some of them can be given to the child from the first days of life. Regardless of the age of the baby, each drug must be carefully studied, paying particular attention to the instructions for use. You can not self-medicate and give your child the first medicine that comes from the nearest pharmacy. Arbidol or its analogue should be sent only after consulting a general practitioner. Only he can prescribe the most suitable medicine for the child.
Reviews of parents about the children's "Arbidol"
Most parents respond positively to this drug. They note that taking "Arbidol" at an early stage of the disease helped to quickly defeat the disease. In just a few days of continuous use, a runny nose and other symptoms of a cold went away. At elevated body temperature, Arbidol also helped alleviate the condition of the child. Thanks to suspension treatment, the risk of various complications that often appear after the flu has been reduced has been reduced.
Reviews of the children's "Arbidol" indicate that many mothers prefer this medicine for its pleasant taste and aroma. This greatly simplifies the use of the drug. Children are happy to drink sweet syrup, which is one of the most popular forms of release of children's "Arbidol". The suspension is easily swallowed, so the treatment of babies takes place without tears and screams. Among the minuses, parents note a short shelf life of the prepared syrup.
Why pediatricians prefer Arbidol
This medicine is one of the most loved by most pediatricians in the country. That is why it is most often prescribed to children during an epidemic or a manifestation of a viral infection. The use of "Arbidol" is not accompanied by side effects. This drug is not addictive, which is often associated with treatment with other medicines. Due to this, it can be used to prevent many diseases.
The active substances contained in the medicine inhibit pathogens, and also help destroy their protective membrane. This stops the spread of the virus in the body and speeds up recovery. Pediatricians recommend giving Arbidol to children because of the following clear advantages over other drugs:
- The medicine reduces the duration of any infectious disease.
- Reduces unpleasant symptoms of the disease.
- Activate the protective functions of the body.
- Helps recover three or four days earlier.
- Reduces the occurrence of complications after a serious illness.
- It is easily tolerated by the children's body, has a convenient release form for babies in the form of a suspension.
The instruction for the children's "Arbidol" contains information that there are certain risks associated with the occurrence of possible side effects. However, such information can be read on most of the instructions from many well-known manufacturers of pharmaceutical companies. As for practice, in 95% of cases, side effects from taking this medicine are not observed.