Modern medicine has thousands of different medicines. All of them have certain indications and contraindications, method of use and special instructions. Many drugs are not used in pediatrics and are prohibited until a certain age. There are drugs that are prescribed for children, but only for use under medical supervision. Before using any medication, parents have a question about whether it can be given to a child. Today's article will tell you about Fluconazole. This drug is prescribed for children, but can it be used? We learn the features of the medication.
Preliminary description
Before answering the question whether it is possible to give Fluconazole to children, it is worth learning more about this medicine. The medication is an antifungal. It is available in several dosage forms: these are tablets, injection. The active substance of the drug is the compound of the same name - fluconazole. Its quantity may vary. When purchasing a medicine, always check the dosage you need.
In the pharmacy, you can also purchase other drugs with other trade names (analogues). But their active ingredient will be the same compound. You can not find on sale "Fluconazole" - ointment. The price of tablets is 40-100 rubles for 150 mg (1 capsule) and 70-150 rubles for 50 mg (7 capsules). A solution for injection costs about 100 rubles per vial.
Can fluconazole be given to children?
To answer this question, you need to refer to the annotation. The instruction for use reports that the medication is not prescribed for children under the age of 4 years. This limitation is explained by insufficient clinical data. In addition, the drug is available in the form of capsules, which have a high dosage (150 and 50 mg of the active substance). Many analogues are offered in liquid form. If the drug "Fluconazole" - a suspension were produced, such treatment would be acceptable for young children.
If it is necessary to use the medicine to treat the child, then analogues are more often selected. At the pharmacy you can buy Diflucan. It is available in the form of a powder for the preparation of syrup. Such a medication can be given to a child even from birth. But its cost is quite high: about 700 rubles. You already know that Fluconazole Ointment is not produced. The price of a similar medicine - “Futsis” gel - will be about 250 rubles.
Indications for use of the drug in a child and adult
What does the instruction about the Fluconazole preparation report? For children, the medication is prescribed for fungal diseases. In the same cases, the medicine is used in adult patients. Indications for use are the following cases:
- cryptococcal infection (meningitis, damage to the lungs and bronchi, skin integument);
- generalized candidiasis (with damage to the peritoneum, respiratory tract, urinary and genital area);
- fungal diseases of the skin, mucous membranes (oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus);
- genital candidiasis;
- mycoses of the skin, nails, feet, scalp;
- endemic mycoses;
- prevention of fungal infections in patients during treatment with antibiotics, chemotherapy and radiation exposure.
Despite the fact that the instructions for use recommend the use of the drug "Fluconazole" for children only 4 years old, it can be prescribed by a specialist if there are relevant indications before. In this case, you need to carefully monitor the child's reaction to therapy and, if necessary, adjust the treatment regimen.
The limitations that the instruction speaks of
The drug "Fluconazole" is not prescribed for children under any circumstances, if there is an increased sensitivity to its components. In this situation, another medicine is selected in which the main substance is a different compound. It is contraindicated to use the medication while using triphenadine.
Caution in use should be observed with renal and hepatic insufficiency, alcoholism and with some chronic diseases. It is not recommended to use the drug on its own. Remember that self-medication is not always right. In order to choose the right medication and get a positive effect from its use, you need to consult a doctor.
The use of drugs for the treatment of newborns: is it possible?
Particular attention should be paid to situations when Fluconazole is prescribed to children after birth. The drug is administered in the form of injections, while the speed should be slow. It is prescribed at a dose of 3 mg per kilogram of the patient’s weight in order to treat candidiasis of the mucous membranes. If a child has generalized candidiasis or a cryptococcal infection, the drug is prescribed in the amount of 6-12 mg per kilogram of the baby’s weight. The medicine is used every 72 hours. For children from 4 weeks of age, the drug is prescribed every 48 hours.
The use of the drug up to 4 years
The medication in the form of tablets is not recommended for children under 4 years of age. If necessary, use at this age should give preference to fluconazole in the drug "Diflucan" (suspension). Dosage depends on the severity of the disease and its type. With fungal damage to the mucous membranes, organs and tissues, 3-12 mg of fluconazole per kilogram of weight is prescribed. It is known that in 5 ml of suspension contains 50 mg of active substance. If the child weighs 10 kilograms, then he is shown 30-120 mg of fluconazole per day. This amount is contained in 3-12 ml of suspension. If necessary, the portion can be divided into several receptions.
Instructions for use: dosage for adults
What does the instruction for use say about Fluconazole? With thrush, the drug is prescribed to adults at 150 mg per day for 7-30 days. If we are talking about vaginal candidiasis, then a capsule of 150 mg is taken once. As a prophylaxis, use one tablet once a month. Such therapy can continue throughout the year.
For the treatment of creptococcal infections, Fluconazole 50 mg is prescribed, 8 capsules per day. In the future, you can reduce this dose by half. Duration of use - at least a month. For preventive purposes, take "Fluconazole" 50 mg, 4 capsules per day for a long time.
With fungal infections of the feet, nails, hair, 150 mg of the drug per week or 50 mg daily is used. Therapy lasts up to 6 weeks. If we are talking about onychomycosis, then the medication is taken until the complete growth of a healthy nail plate.
Can the medicine harm the fetus? The use of the drug during pregnancy
You already know that the drug "Fluconazole" (tablets) is not prescribed for young children. But is it possible for future mothers to take it? Indeed, in this case, the active substance can penetrate the placental barrier. What do doctors think about this, and what data does the instruction report?
The annotation states that the medicine for the treatment of fungus is not used during pregnancy. There have been no clinical trials in this group of patients. But if we are talking about dangerous infections that threaten a woman’s life, then the drug is still prescribed (in the second and third trimesters). In this case, the medication is prescribed in minimum doses for a short time. During the treatment period, the expectant mother should be under the supervision of doctors. Doctors also monitor the condition of the unborn child.
What is the treatment fraught with?
In most cases, patients tolerate the prescribed drug well. Self-dosage increase is not allowed. If you follow the recommendations, then negative consequences are unlikely. But they are not excluded. Treatment may cause the following adverse reactions:
- allergies (edema, itching, urticaria);
- digestive disorders (taste change, abdominal pain, diarrhea);
- exacerbation of pathologies of the nervous system (headache, cramps, dizziness);
- renal failure.
"Fluconazole" to the child
2 years is the age after which doctors prescribe medication without fear. Despite the warnings of the instructions, experts say that the drug will not adversely affect the growing body. It effectively copes with candidiasis and other fungal infections in babies. However, doctors do not recommend discontinuing therapy prematurely. It is necessary to use a strictly prescribed time, the drug "Fluconazole".
How to take medicine to children, you already know. If the drug is prescribed in the form of capsules, and not Diflucan suspension, then it is permissible to open the gelatin shell. Dilute the contents of the capsule in a tablespoon of water and give the mixture to the child.
Reviews about the drug and useful opinions
What do consumers think about Fluconazole? “The child is 1 year old, and the doctor prescribed the drug,” - for this reason, mothers often seek help. Experts say that there is nothing criminal in such a recommendation. Many medicines are not intended for use in children. However, many years of practice have shown the safety of such treatment. Parents are surprised that Diflucan can be used from the first days of life, while Fluconazole is contraindicated for up to 4 years. At the same time, the active substances and even the dosage for these drugs are the same. Only the price is different. A medication approved for use in children costs several times more. What do doctors think about this?
Doctors say that the medicine "Diflucan" refers to proven. The manufacturer spent a lot of money for research. The results of the experiments showed that the medication does not do any harm to the child. It has a positive effect on well-being and effectively eliminates the disease. In this case, adverse reactions occur only in isolated cases. All this explains why the drug is more expensive than its Russian counterpart. Fluconazole has not been studied in this way. Therefore, it is easier for its manufacturer to relieve himself of responsibility and indicate: "It is contraindicated for children under 4 years of age."
Those parents whose children took the medicine as prescribed by the doctor have positive opinions about it. The medicine is inexpensive, it can be purchased at any pharmacy. This does not require a prescription from a doctor. The treatment is effective and safe. Most often, "Fluconazole" is prescribed for the treatment of oral candidiasis. They often suffer the children of the first year of life. The disease manifests itself with anxiety of the baby, the formation of a white dense coating in the mouth and other symptoms. After using the antifungal medication, my health improved markedly. The effect is noticeable after a few days of regular use of the medication.
Finally
From the article you learned about the effective Fluconazole preparation. Instructions for use with thrush and other diseases are presented to your attention. The medication can be used for children, but only as directed by a doctor. All the information indicated in the instructions is intended for careful study by consumers, but the independent use of the medicine to treat children under four years of age is unacceptable.
In pharmacy chains, you can find a lot of substitutes for the described medicine. All of them have in their composition the active substance fluconazole. Their trade names are: Diflucan, Flucostat, Mikosist, Flucosan, Tsiskan, and so on. Some of these instructions for use allow children to take from the first days of life. It is important to continue treatment with the medicines described until good research results are obtained. I wish you good health!