Antiviral syrups for children

Every mother and father wants to see their baby healthy. Therefore, many people in the cold season, as well as during periods of rising generalized morbidity, try to maximally protect their offspring from possible infection with influenza and ARVI.

This desire is understandable and commendable. But let's carefully observe how the vast majority of parents act. They go to the pharmacy and buy antiviral drugs, preferably in syrup. This is indeed the most popular form of medicine for children. We will talk about when and how to take such syrups today.

Antiviral drugs on the mechanism of their action are divided into several main groups:

• Alone directly affect the virus, his ability to spread. Such drugs, as a rule, have many side effects.
• Others possess immunostimulating effect they “encourage” the child’s immunity to a speedy immune response to the invasion of viruses. These drugs are not the best way to affect the immune system, can cause immunodeficiency.
• The third large group of antiviral drugs contains interferon - a protein that is produced by the immune response and which is actively involved in the process of blocking viruses with antibodies. There is a rather large group of homeopathic remedies, the manufacturers of which claim to have a pronounced antiviral effect.

This dosage form has many advantages:

• Ease of use. That is why parents often call her "child". Drug manufacturers have tried their best, so all antiviral syrups have a pleasant taste, smell, they are sweet. Anyone, even a very naughty kid, would be happy to take such a tasty medicine, especially if it smells like strawberries and banana.
• Versatility. Syrups can be given to children from a very early age, including babies up to a year. The form does not require chewing, swallowing, swallowing. Some drugs can be diluted with tea or water to make it easier for the child to take it.

Among the minuses are a few nuances that moms and dads should know:

• Contraindications. Syrups, although they are called "children's medicine", have certain disadvantages, for example, sugar in the composition. Sweet fruit preparations should not be given to children with diabetes, prone to diathesis, allergies, especially food. You just read the instructions for use! After all, for 5 mln. Syrup in most modern drugs there are 3 gr. Of sugar! This is a lot.
• Incorrect dosage. Some antiviral drugs are sold as ready-made syrup. There are no problems with it, because the bottles are equipped with measuring caps. But there is a considerable number of names of drugs that offer only powder for self-dilution of the suspension (syrup). Despite detailed and detailed instructions, many parents are mistaken with the amount of water or powder, as a result they receive an incorrectly prepared remedy that can either cause an overdose or does not have the proper effect due to poor concentration.

Despite the fact that syrups with antiviral effects are sold in pharmacies in our country without prescriptions, I don’t tire of repeating to moms and dads that you shouldn’t do self-medication. Especially when it comes to baby. Without the recommendation of the doctor to buy and give the baby such drugs is dangerous.

Introducing Transmission Release Dr. Komarovsky on children's antiviral drugs.

Antiviral agents can usually be prescribed as part of complex therapy for:

• Flu;
• ARVI;
• Corey;
• Chicken pox;
• Scarlet fever;
• Hepatitis;
• Immunodeficiency of various etiologies;
• ARI;
• Herpes infection;
• Infectious mononucleosis;
• Shingles etc.

In addition, antiviral drugs can be prescribed by a doctor for the prevention of influenza and ARVI during periods of seasonal growth of diseases, as well as if there are already infected people in the child’s environment.

The effectiveness of antiviral syrups for children, as well as any other form of drugs of this large group, is currently under big question. The fact is that the clinical effect of antiviral drugs has so far not been convincingly proven. Most manufacturers indicate that their remedy for 3-5 days eliminates the flu and ARVI. But just so many days it is necessary for the child’s own immunity to defeat the virus without drug support.

And now Dr. Komarovsky will remind us when it is necessary to give antibiotics to children.

Even more questions are raised by homeopathic preparations, in which the active ingredients are in such negligible concentrations that it is not possible to test their effectiveness in laboratory conditions. For this very reason, many doctors believe that homeopathic remedies are the most common "dummy", which gives nothing but the effect of "placebo".

Doctors try not to prescribe this antiviral remedy for children under one year old. The main substance in the composition of the syrup - rimantadine. Manufacturers (Russia) claim that the drug has a pronounced direct antiviral effect, besides stimulates the immune system, contributes to the development of its own interferon, as a pleasant bonus - it has a small anti-inflammatory effect.

In the package with the bottle of the finished syrup there is always a syringe dispenser. You do not need to dilute and measure out anything at home, all dosages are listed in the instructions for use, and the dosing unit indicates the necessary divisions.

This syrup is not recommended to be taken simultaneously with antipyretic drugs, since the latter significantly reduce the antiviral effect.

«Orvirem"Give children from 1 year after eating. Babies from 1 to 3 years old are usually prescribed 10 ml. syrup from 1 to 3 times per day. From three up to seven years, children can take 15 ml. syrup Children over seven years old are allowed to take 20 ml. "Orvirem" from 1 to 3 times a day, depending on the severity of the viral infection.

This is a popular three-component anti-virus drug in the form of a syrup. The main active ingredient is benzadol, which stimulates the production of its own interferons in the children's body. The composition also has ascorbic acid. Everyone knows about its benefits during the illness. Syrup can be given to children who have reached the age of one and older.

You can buy Tsitovir 3 in two versions - ready-made syrup with a measuring spoon in a package or powder for preparing a syrup at home. It is better to buy powder for those patients who suffer from diabetes, and to whom the ready syrup is contraindicated.The medicine that you get after breeding according to the instructions is also sweetish, but not because of sugar, but because of the presence of fructose in the composition.

Syrup give half an hour before meals, not more than three times a day. Babies from 1 to 3 years old not more than 2 ml. per reception, children from 3 to 6 years old - 4 ml, children from 6 up to 10 years - no more than 8 ml. at one time. The number of procedures (one, two or three) should determine your pediatrician, depending on the characteristics of the course of the disease.

This drug, like the two previous ones, is recommended for children older than 1 year. The main active ingredient is amantadine. Mode of action - direct blockade of the virus. Available in the form of ready-to-use substance. Give it to the child after a meal, it is advisable to drink Algirem with water or juice. Reception frequency - from 1 to 3 times a day. Children from one year to three years old - a single dose should not exceed 10 ml. From 3 to 6 years old - no more than 15 ml at one time, and children over 6 years old - no more than 20 ml.

This drug can be given even to babies up to a year. In the composition - plant substances. Children give the drug 1-2 times a day with a dispenser half an hour before meals. Little ones up to a year - not more than 0.5 ml at a time, from 1 to 2 years - 1 ml, from 2 under 4 years old - 2 ml each, from 4 to 6 years old - no more than 4 ml per reception, from 6 to 10 years old - 5-6 ml each. The medicine is sold as a ready-made syrup, which must be shaken thoroughly before use.

The average price of antiviral syrups in Russia today is quite affordable for most families. It starts at 200 rubles for the cheapest drug. "Tsitovir 3" costs about 360 rubles, "Orvirem"- from 230 rubles. The most expensive of the syrups is the plant Immunoflazid. Its price starts from 460 rubles per 50 ml bottle.