8 Modern antivirals for children

*Review of the best ones according to the editorial board. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective, not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to purchase. Before buying it you need to consult with a specialist.

If you believe the pediatricians, a healthy child with normal immunity, who attends kindergarten, tolerates from 4 to 6 colds during the year. Such frequency of illnesses can be considered a normal reaction of a healthy immune system to pathogens coming from outside.

According to experts from the World Health Organization,During an acute respiratory viral infection, unless we are talking about the flu, special antivirals are not needed. Moreover, if your child’s temperature does not exceed 38 degrees, you do not need antipyretics either. Rest (bed rest), cool, humid air (ventilation and wet terry towels on radiator), and plenty of fluids (anything at all) are sufficient. Nasal vasoconstrictor drops to prevent otitis media and anti-cough drops for dry, debilitating cough may be needed.

But few parents have enough equanimity to limit themselves to simple measures. In addition, children with adenoid vegetations (in common parlance – adenoids) have an increased likelihood of otitis, and parents of such children prefer to give their kids medications from the beginning of the disease, hoping to prevent complications. For those who believe that treating a cold without antivirals is not a cure, we present a review of antivirals for children.

Necessary Warning:no homeopathic medicines in the ranking. WHO warns against using homeopathy for any infections, including seasonal ARIs, the UK National Health Service has banned doctors from prescribing homeopathic medicines, and the Russian Academy of Sciences in its memorandum declared homeopathy pseudoscience. In our drug review, we try to take a scientific approach.

We believe it is necessary to noteIf during a common seasonal respiratory viral infection or “cold” you can do without antivirals, then during the flu they are shown. In more detail how to distinguish the cold from the flu was told in the rating review of antiviral drugs for children and adults at the link.

Review of antivirals for children

Review of antivirals for children from birth to 2 years old

This is the most difficult group of patients. Theoretically, babies from birth to six months of age should be protected by antibodies from the mother through the placenta, and later – coming into the body with breast milk. In practice it does not always work. Not everyone can breastfeed, and breastfeeding may not work out for one reason or another. So these children are not immune to infections, and their own immunity is still poorly formed, and the body itself is not always able to safely tolerate the fever and intoxication caused by the disease.

And at the same time there are no remedies with direct antiviral action, approved for use in children of this age. This leaves only immunomodulating medications and homeopathy which will not help the child in any way but may calm the parents down.

Viferon suppositories

Popularity Rating*: 4.9

Antiviral suppositories with 150,000 IU of the active substance are used for children from birth. There are also suppositories with higher doses of Viferon, they are used to treat children over 7 years old and adults.

Contains human recombinant (that is, produced by genetically modified bacteria) interferon. It is a substance that has both a direct antiviral effect and the ability to stimulate the body’s immune response.

Used rectally, which is quite convenient for parents, 2 times a day. i.e. every 12 hours. The course duration is 5 days.

Advantages

• convenient form of application.

Disadvantages

• Allergic reactions possible.

Grippferon nasal spray

Popularity Rating*: 4.6

Another drug based on human recombinant interferon. The spray is not absorbed through the mucous membranes, that is, it does not act on the entire body, which is why it is considered safer. And it is difficult to overdose in this way.

Of the disadvantages, you should note the need for frequent use – babies under a year old are injected 1 dose (1 “squirt”) into each nostril 5 times a day. And it is in a day, that is every 4 – 5 hours without a break for a night’s sleep.

Advantages of

• Only local action.

Disadvantages

• Should be used 5 times a day.

Review of antivirals for children from 2 to 7 years old

In this age group the choice of drugs becomes a little wider, but also not too great. Limit the use of medicines in both dosage and form. For example, it is believed that you can not give the pills to children under 3 years of age, because it is difficult for a baby to swallow them and he may choke. For the same reason, children under 7 years of age are not recommended drugs in capsules.

Therefore, not all products from the current section of the review of antivirals for children can be used directly from two years of a baby’s life. Pay attention to age restrictions.

Arbidol powder for preparing a suspension

Popularity Rating*: 4.8

Approved for use in children over 2 years of age.

In a dark glass vial there is a powder. which need to be diluted. Firstly pour about ⅓ of the vial volume of boiled water, shake well until the powder dissolves, then top up the water to the mark (100 ml). Measure out the desired dose with the measuring spoon, which is included. For children from 2 to 6 years it is 10 ml. Prepared suspension should not be stored longer than 10 days.

Take 4 times a day for 5 days. Given that the entire bottle contains 100 ml of suspension, it turns out that for a full course of treatment it is necessary to buy two bottles at once.

Advantages

• Has a direct antiviral effect.

Disadvantages

• High price for the course of treatment.

Kagocel

Popularity Rating*: 4.5

Does not act directly on viruses, but stimulates the body’s synthesis of interferons, which, in turn, have antiviral activity. Can be taken from three years of age, in the first two days of the disease – 1 tablet 2 times a day, in the next 2 days – one tablet once a day.

Of the side effects noted only allergic reactions.

Speaking about the disadvantages of this drug, it should be noted that since it has no effect on viruses, but stimulates the immune response, the effectiveness of the action will depend on the severity of the individual immune response.

Advantages

• Pretty simple scheme of taking it.

Disadvantages

• The effectiveness will depend on the condition of the body.

Oseltamivir

Popularity Rating*: 4.3

Trade names: Tamiflu, Nomides, Oseltamivir phosphate

This drug is for children over one year of age and has proven effectiveness, but only against the flu virus. In other words it can only be used if it is certain that the disease at hand is not a cold, but precisely the flu.

Has direct antiviral activity.

For children from one to 8 years is a powder to prepare a suspension. Using a special measuring cup, you need to measure 52 ml of drinking water, pour it into the bottle and shake vigorously. After that, you must insert an adapter into the neck of the vial to measure the desired dose of the suspension. For children from one to six years of age (weighing less than 15 kg) it is 30 mg of the active ingredient. To be taken twice a day.

The ready-to-use suspension may be stored up to 10 days at room temperature and up to 17 days in the refrigerator.

It should be said that the product has many side effects, of which the most common are headache, nausea, vomiting. Available by prescription.

Advantages

• Recommended by WHO for treatment and prevention of influenza.

Disadvantages

• Many side effects.
• prescription.
• High price.

Review of antivirals for school-age children

For children over 7 years it is much easier to choose an antiviral. Can use any of the drugs described among the antiviral drugs for other age groups, only in the appropriate dosages. Or you can take medications approved for use in schoolchildren and adolescents.

Ingavirin

Popularity Rating*: 4.7

Acts at the cellular level, activating the synthesis of antiviral proteins. In addition, it stimulates the production of interferons.

A dosage of 60 mg is intended for children from 7 years of age (there is also 90 mg for adults). Should be taken once a day for 5 – 7 days (a pack of 7 capsules).

Advantages

• Only to be taken once a day.
• A bottle is enough for a course of treatment.
• few side effects.

Drawbacks

• no.

Amixin

Popularity Rating*: 4.4

For children over 7 years of age, 60 mg tablets are intended.

It inhibits the activity of virus multiplication in cells, stimulates the synthesis of interferons.

Convenient course of use in children: only 3 tablets will be needed, 1 on the first, second and fourth day of the disease (on the third day you need to take a break).

Allergic reactions, dyspepsia (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), chills, possible side effects.

Advantages

• 3 tablets per course of treatment.
• Taken once every 24 to 48 hours.

Disadvantages

• Possible side effects.

Zanamivir

Popularity Rating*: 4.2

Trade name: Relenza.

Another drug intended exclusively for the treatment of influenza. Can be used in children from the age of 5.

Has direct antiviral activity. Available as a means of inhalation in a special form – a rotadisk, which must be inserted into the bottle – dischaller, coming with. 1 rotadisc is designed for 4 inhalations.

Use 2 inhalations twice a day for 5 days. That is, one Rotadisc is enough for a day of taking it, and there are 5 in total, just for a course.

The drug is not absorbed internally, acting only locally, without affecting vital organs. But this does not save us from side effects. OTC marked the possibility of swelling of the face and larynx due to allergic reactions, bronchospasm due to irritation of the respiratory tract with particles of the drug.

Advantages

• Proven efficacy against influenza (recommended by WHO).
• only local effect.
• The package is enough for a full course of treatment.

Disadvantages

• side effects may occur.

*Popularity rating based on analysis of wordstat demand data..