The main means of protecting the human body from viral and bacterial infections is the immune system. But due to the wrong lifestyle, it often does not fulfill its functions in modern people. Therefore, more and more drugs are being created that affect the human immunity, stimulating it. Such immunobiological preparations began to be used more than 100 years ago. At first they were created from substances of biological origin, now they have learned to produce their synthetic substitutes. There are many different types of them, and only a few go on sale.
Characterization of immunobiological preparations
Basically, such funds are made from the blood and tissues of humans or animals. Also used is the cultivation of microorganisms in a special nutrient medium. Recently, immunobiological preparations have been produced by creating recombinant DNA. Such synthetic products are not inferior in effectiveness to natural ones. These drugs can differ greatly not only in the method of production, but also in the particular application. They are united only by the fact that they affect the human body through its immune system. Available in the form of tablets, injectable solutions, suppositories, aerosols or suspensions.
What are immunobiological preparations? These are various vaccines, toxoids, antimicrobial serums, immunoglobulins, interferons, enzymes and bacteriophages. Among the more common agents that affect human immunity, eubiotics, probiotics, immunomodulators and adaptogens can be distinguished. Now it has become popular to take various dietary supplements, many of which also belong to this group of drugs.
Classification
They have been talking about a decrease in human immunity and the need to act on it for many years. And those who care about their health and want to protect themselves and loved ones from infections are interested in what immunobiological preparations are. Their list is now quite large; more and more new medicines are being created. But all of them can be divided into 5 groups according to the characteristics of the composition and the nature of the effect on the body:
- The first group is immunobiological preparations obtained from living or dead microorganisms. These are mainly various vaccines, toxoids and serums used for the prevention and treatment of severe infectious diseases. This group also includes bacteriophages, which are viruses that kill bacteria, and probiotics - drugs based on non-pathogenic microorganisms.
- There are also immunobiological preparations created from special antibodies that are produced by the body in response to an attack of bacteria and viruses. These are various immunoglobulins, serums and enzymes. They are in the second group.
- The third group of drugs is a means to stimulate the human immune system. They are called immunomodulators, and they are used to treat and prevent viral and bacterial infections. These are mainly various interferons.
- The fourth group of immunobiological agents includes adaptogens - substances most often of plant origin: herbal extracts, biologically active additives and vitamins.
- The last group includes immunobiological preparations for the diagnosis of various infectious diseases and the determination of allergens.
Interferon alfa
The price of drugs based on it ranges from 60 to 600 rubles, depending on the method of application and the manufacturer. Interferon is a protein produced by the human immune system in response to a virus attack. But often it is not enough in the body. And in case of infection, it must be received from the outside to successfully fight the infection. For these purposes, the recombinant Interferon Alfa can be used, the price of which is low - about 100 rubles. Or various preparations based on a synthetic or protein derived from human blood cells. These are drugs such as Viferon, Anaferon, Lifeferon and others. When ingested, they stimulate the immune system and trigger a defense mechanism against viruses and bacteria.
What is a bacteriophage?
The instruction for such drugs recommends using them only after examination and the appointment of a doctor. After all, bacteriophages are viruses that destroy bacterial cells. But they live only in certain microorganisms. Therefore, the wrong drug can harm. Depending on the disease, streptococcal, dysenteric, pseudomonas or staphylococcal bacteriophage are prescribed. The instruction for such drugs recommends using them internally or externally for various bacterial infections. It has already been proven that bacteriophages have many advantages over antibiotics:
- do not destroy beneficial bacteria;
- not addictive;
- do not violate the human immune system;
- microorganisms cannot become immune to them;
- have no contraindications and side effects.
Therefore, now more and more often various infections are treated with just such drugs. The most common of them are Intesti, Pyobacteriophage, Klebsiphagus, Polyvalent Dysentery, Staphylococcal, Streptococcal and Salmonella.
Other commonly used drugs
In recent years, more and more doctors and patients are turning for treatment not to antibiotics, but to means to stimulate the immune system. Although many find these drugs useless. But for prevention and in the complex treatment of bacterial and viral infections, they are prescribed for both adults and children. There are several groups of common and well-known immunobiological drugs:
- Probiotics are intended for the treatment of diseases associated with impaired intestinal microflora. They contain beneficial lactobacilli or bifidobacteria. They are used for poor nutrition, poisoning, dysentery, salmonellosis, diarrhea, to restore intestinal microflora after antibiotic treatment. The most common probiotics are Kolibacterin, Bifidumbacterin, Lactobacterin, Bifikol and others.
- Adaptogens are substances extracted from plants or marine life. Everyone knows that extracts of Eleutherococcus, Ginseng, Rosehip or seaweed strengthen the immune system and increase efficiency. They are not only used for infectious diseases, but also improve the activity of all internal organs.
- Immunomodulators are means that stimulate the body's defenses and accelerate the production of antibodies. These include various peptides - "Timosin", "Titulin"; interferons - "Viferon"; antibodies extracted from microbial cells are Pyrogenal, Salmosan, and Lycopid. This group also includes some antibiotics, for example, Levamisole and Cyclosporin.
Features of the use of such drugs
Despite the fact that these drugs are considered safe and rarely cause side effects, they can be taken only on the recommendation of a doctor. In addition, there are other features of using such tools:
- in most cases, storage of immunobiological preparations should be carried out in the refrigerator;
- it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions when taking these medicines;
- most often they are used in complex treatment, since their effect may not appear immediately.
Many immunobiological preparations are used only in a medical institution, for example, vaccines, serums and some immunoglobulins. Others are used to strengthen and stimulate the immune system. After all, it is immunity that is what protects a person from infections.