Children more often than adults are prone to various viral infections. This is due to the fact that a small, not yet fully formed organism still has very weak immunity. In order to choose high-quality and effective antiviral drugs for children, you need to know how the child’s immune system works and what means can really help cope with the infection.
What is immunity
The human immune system is a complex mechanism that relieves the body of various infections and diseases. Lymphocytes contained in the organs of the protective system (tonsils, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen) are produced in the required quantity in order to deal with genetically foreign objects. An increased rate of these substances in the blood means that there is an infection in the body.
Another very important component that the immune system produces is interferons. These are special proteins that are secreted in the body when the virus appears. Interferons are able to fight both with various types of infections, and with cancer cells. A low amount of such proteins in the body means that the human immune system is weakened.
Decreased immunity is one of the most important reasons why children get sick so often. Interferon proteins are produced very poorly in the body, phagocytosis (absorption of foreign particles) does not occur, which means that the ability to fight the virus is reduced. It can be assumed that with a good immune system, antiviral drugs are not needed, but this is not entirely true. If immune cells are necessary in order to fight the virus, then drugs are needed in order to stop its reproduction in the body.
Virus - living matter
Surely many wondered what the virus is. Let's try to figure it out. From a course in school biology, it is known that the virus is a microparticle that can infect living organisms. It consists of DNA or RNA molecules enclosed in a capsid (protein coat). Influenza is only one of its varieties.
The influenza virus consists of ribonucleic acid and a protective membrane. It is transmitted by airborne droplets and affects the upper respiratory tract. This disease is one of the acute respiratory viral diseases (ARVI).
How do viral infections work?
In order to choose effective antiviral drugs for children from 2 years old, you need to know how infection occurs. As a rule, children suffer from SARS. The virus enters the body through the respiratory tract and infects one cell there. It is embedded in its genetic structure and multiplies very quickly. During this period of time, the child can observe a swollen red throat, a stuffy nose. As a rule, after a certain time, the baby rises in temperature. This is because the body activates all its protective properties. High temperature (up to 38 ° C) enhances phagocytosis and stimulates the formation of interferon. Once the virus or infection recedes, a drop in temperature can be observed.
Is it always necessary to use antiviral drugs for children
From 2 years and older, children often get sick, but does it always make sense to “feed” them with various medicines? The fact is that immune cells have a very good memory. After a successful victory over bacteria, they remember them and the next time they fight with them even more efficiently. If a mild virus enters the child's body, then he is able to cope with it on his own. For some reason, some parents believe that this is dangerous, and prefer to give medication immediately.
This is an erroneous opinion. After using antiviral drugs, addiction arises, and the immune system will cope worse every time. If a weak virus enters the body, and the child does not have a high temperature, then such drugs can be dispensed with. In addition, scientists have proven that at an older age children are exposed to ARVI much less often, precisely because by this time they develop immunity to these viruses.
What is an antiviral drug?
It is known that this is a medicine that helps in the fight against the virus. But what is the principle of its action? It turns out that there are various antiviral drugs for children from 2 years old. All of them are classified by the active substance and the mechanism of the fight against the virus. For example, adamantane and its derivatives are substances that block the penetration of viral RNA into the cells of the body. Interferons can enhance immunity, and aminocyclohexenecarboxylic acid inhibits the reproduction of viruses. There is another separate series of drugs called homeopathic ones. Such drugs have a small dose of the infection itself, which contributes to its suppression. Each of these groups of drugs is really capable of fighting viruses, but which one to choose? Let's consider them in more detail.
Interferons (IFN)
This group includes various antiviral drugs for children 2 years old. The list below is just a small fraction of the drugs that exist around the world. Antiviral drugs with interferon:
- Laferobion.
- Reaferon.
- Viferon.
- Grippferon.
- Genferon Light.
These drugs contain IFN. This is an analogue of the interferon that produces the human body. This substance prevents the reproduction of the virus, disrupting the synthesis of viral ribonucleic acid. This is an absolutely natural component that does not cause allergies. IFN practically has no contraindications for use and is excellent for both children and adults. On the package with a medicinal product containing interferon, its preparation method (recombinant or human leukocyte) and molecular weight of IFN molecules (alpha, beta, gamma) must be indicated.
Leukocyte interferon is made from donated human blood, and it is extremely rare. A more common form is recombinant IFN. It is produced in biochemical laboratories by synthesizing a clone of Escherichia coli and human genes. Such antiviral drugs for children 2 years of age are inexpensive and quite effective. They are excellent immunomodulators that help protect the child's body from a viral infection. If ARVI is already in an advanced stage, and the child has a high temperature (above 38 ° C), then in this case these drugs will be a good help in the fight against the virus.
Homeopathic remedies
Such drugs can be attributed to this category of drugs:
- Anaferon.
- Neotonsilar.
- Immunocind.
- Engistol.
- Aflubin.
They are widely used, especially for the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections in children. Unfortunately, not all parents are aware of the properties of homeopathic remedies and their methods of influencing the body. The most important principle of these drugs is that if large doses of a certain substance cause a certain symptom, then its small doses produce the opposite effect (similar can be cured by similar). Antiviral drugs for children from 2 years old based on homeopathic remedies contain very small doses of substances similar in their properties to viruses. Thus, getting inside the body, they make it faster to include its protective functions.
Their high effectiveness has not been scientifically proven, but the demand for these drugs in pharmacies speaks for itself. Almost every country produces certain antiviral drugs for children (2 years). Russia has also been very successful in this matter. Almost everyone has heard of such a drug as Anaferon. This homeopathic remedy is used to prevent flu in many families.
Dr. Komarovsky and ARVI
Many parents know such a wonderful doctor as Dr. Komarovsky. His tips and tricks impress with simplicity and efficiency. Surely many are interested in what this expert says about SARS. Naturally, in order not to get sick, you need to try to reduce contacts with infected people. Unfortunately, this does not always work. Another solution is antiviral drugs for children 2 years old. Komarovsky advises the use of drugs such as Oseltamivir and Rimantadine. But to do this is necessary only when the child is forced to contact with patients with the flu (in kindergarten, school).
Enzyme inhibitory substances
This group includes antiviral drugs for children (2 years). Good parents always try to choose for their baby not only an effective medicine, but also the most sparing. Most likely, therefore, Dr. Komarovsky advises this group of drugs (Oseltamivir and Rimantadine) for the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections. Such drugs are called neuraminidase inhibitors. They slow down the proliferation of viruses by exposing a component of the envelope of the virus, which is called neuraminidase.
Oseltamivir is the active ingredient in Oseltamivir, which can be found in drugs such as Tamiflu and Flustop. Amantadine is the active ingredient of Rimantadine and has similar properties to oseltamivir. Amantadine derivatives are resistant to type A influenza viruses. Oseltamivir, in turn, inhibits the action of type A and B influenza enzymes.
Dosage Forms
The best antiviral drugs for children come in many different forms. Let's try to figure out what the difference is and which of them are more effective. Little children are not always willing to take medicine. Most often, this event is accompanied by whims and tears. Manufacturers of medicines in every possible way try to please both the baby (so that it does not hurt and tasty), and parents (so that the drug is effective). The most common forms include: tablets, drops, syrups and candles. Of course, there are also injections, however, as a rule, they are used not by parents, but by doctors. In each such tool, regardless of its appearance, the necessary amount of active substance is present.
Antiviral drops and tablets for children
In order for the baby to take the medicine with joy, it must be tasty. It is these tablets that modern manufacturers are trying to make. By adding various components (for example, lactose monohydrate), they get antiviral drugs for children - inexpensive and quite tasty. Lactose is a milk sugar used in various foods and medicines as a sweetener. Surely even the most stubborn child will not refuse a pill with such a component.
For a form such as drops, a sweetener is not needed. Of course, the kids do not really like it when they bury their nose, but sometimes this is a necessary measure. When a child develops a runny nose, resorption of the tablet may not be effective enough. In this case, nasal drops are used. First, the nasal cavity is washed with saline in order to get rid of excess mucus, and then a few drops of medicine are dripped into the baby’s nose. Although small patients do not like this idea, many parents approve of such antiviral drugs for children 2 years old. Reviews on various forums indicate the effectiveness of nasal drops from a runny nose and stuffy nose.
Antiviral suppositories
About this form of drugs has become known relatively recently. It is precisely because parents do not know why they release antiviral suppositories that they often make a choice not in their favor. And very in vain. It turns out that such antiviral drugs for children 2 years of age are inexpensive and fast-acting. Once inside the body in a rectal way, the active substance of the drug (in this form, as a rule, is interferon) is very rapidly absorbed and enters the bloodstream. This allows IFN to quickly provide antiviral and immunomodulatory effects.
We found that there are a huge number of antiviral drugs for children. They are available in different pharmacological forms and differ in composition. In each case, a medicine may be less or more effective. The choice of antiviral drugs for children is best coordinated with the attending physician, and then their use will only benefit the child.