All people are exposed to viruses, but medicines for them have a lot of restrictions on taking, including age-related ones. For this reason, antiviral drugs for children 2 years of age and younger are selected carefully and carefully.
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What is a virus and how does the body fight it
The virus is difficult to attribute to a specific group of living things. The fact is that when they are outside the host’s body, they do not show signs of life, although under the shell of these microscopic organisms there is genetic material - DNA or RNA. But as soon as they get to a suitable medium, all processes in them are immediately activated. The virus begins to multiply exponentially, capture more and more healthy cells, disrupting their normal functioning and trying to spread their genes as far as possible.
If the body did not interfere with this reproduction, the consequences would be deplorable, but, fortunately, a person has a developed immune system. When foreign agents begin to appear in the blood, including viruses, the level of interferons rises - special compounds that absorb unwanted "guests" and kill them. If the immune system did not manage to give out the right portion of interferon in time, the symptoms of the disease begin to appear.
Some of the symptoms are the work of the virus, while others are the result of the expenditure of energy to combat it. Due to the increased production of interferons, body temperature rises, and the cause of weakness is the redirection of proteins from muscles to foci of the spread of the virus.Also, a runny nose, coughing, sneezing often occur - all these are ways of fighting the body, aimed at ensuring that harmful microbes leave the body through the respiratory tract.
Sometimes your own immunity is not enough, then antiviral agents come to the rescue.
Classification of antiviral drugs by release form and composition
Medicines against viruses by their action (and, therefore, by the constituent components) are divided into 2 large groups.
- Helping the natural immunity of a person. They stimulate the production of interferons, becoming an indirect cause of the destruction of the virus. These products may contain tilorone, azoximer bromide (available in Polyoxidonium), trekrezan (the main active ingredient of the drug of the same name), imidazolylethanamide pentanedioic acid (in Ingaverine).
- Acting directly on the virus itself. The mechanisms of action may be different. Some substances destroy the structure of the pathogen, others lock it inside infected cells, and others block healthy cells, thereby stopping the further spread of the infection. The most popular substances: umifenovir (in Arbidol), meglumine acridone acetate, etc.
There are also complex preparations that combine the signs and components of both groups. A separate block is homeopathic remedies.
According to the form of release are in the form of:
- pills
- capsules / granules;
- candles (they are suppositories);
- ointments and gel;
- drops and syrup.
There is a classification according to the groups of viruses that the drugs resist.
- Antiretroviral - for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus and the like.
- Influenza - are prescribed mainly for acute respiratory viral infections and influenza, but can also be used for other diseases.
- Antiherpetic drugs - fight with herpes of almost all types.
- Anti-hepatitis - for hepatitis B / C / D.
The most effective remedies for children 2 years old
Effective antiviral drugs for children:
- Viferon. A synthetic immunomodulator, produced in the form of suppositories, which act gently - dissolve in the intestine, without affecting the upper digestive tract. Relatively safe, since only mild allergies can occur from side effects.
- Derinat. It improves the resistance of the immune system, even use in infants is allowed.
- "Grippferon." For kids comes in the form of drops. It has no contraindications.
- Anaferon. The remedy is classified as homeopathic and is made in the form of tablets, soluble in water. Reception lasts 3 days, in the morning, at lunch and in the evening, with the exception of the first day, when the drug is given to the child every 30 minutes. It is safe, but in the absence of positive changes, you will have to switch to the drug more strongly.
- "Orvirem." Children's syrup that directly affects the virus - expels it from infected cells and does not pass it to healthy ones.
Recommendations of Dr. Komarovsky
The famous pediatrician Yevgeny Olegovich Komarovsky deeply studied the dilemma about the selection of medicines that parents face, especially if the child is still small.
The TV doctor issued a verdict: a universal remedy against all viruses has not yet been invented, therefore it is strictly forbidden to prescribe the first drug from this group to the baby on his own.
There is a possibility that the parent will not guess and will aggravate the situation even more, therefore it is better not to do anything than to rush. “Only a doctor prescribes an antiviral,” says Komarovsky.
In addition to taking medications, other related measures will affect the speed of recovery:
- Maintaining water balance in the body of the child.
- Moisturizing the mucous membranes of the nose, for example, with saline. 1 tsp salt per 1 liter of warm water. The frequency of use is not limited and depends on well-being.
- Maintaining optimal temperature (20 ° C) and humidity in the room (60%). Pathogens are destroyed in a slightly cool, mobile and moist air, so you should not forget about airing.Heaters dry the air, so their use is undesirable, a ray to cover or clothe the patient.
- Healthy fasting. Do not feed your baby through force.
- Walks. If the baby is able to go out, it is worth doing it.
- Cleaning. Wet cleaning and hygiene will help you recover faster.
- Folk remedies. They do not always save, but with a competent approach and after consulting a pediatrician, they can significantly alleviate the condition of the child.
Treatment of viral diseases is not an easy task, requiring strict adherence to drug instructions. It is best when undergoing the course to be under the supervision of an experienced doctor.
