Pharmaceutical Providing for Prevention and Treatment of Influenza in Children

Introduction. Influenza – an acute infectious disease of viral origin with a short incubation period, sudden onset and cyclical course that is characterized by severe toxicity and defeat of the upper respiratory tract and lungs. At present the urgent problem is to improve the methods of effective prevention and treatment of viral infections in children, including through the use of appropriative dosage forms. Aim. To identify the main groups of drugs and conduct analysis of the current range of dosage forms that are most often recommended for the prevention and treatment of influenza in children. Materials and methods. In the process of study were used: the method of content analysis, the bibliographic method and generalization method. The objects of researches were the State Register of medicinal products, The State Form of medicines, clinical protocols and standards of care of influenza and acute respiratory infections. Results. Results of content analysis of the State Register of medicinal products, clinical protocols and standards of care clarified that for prevention and treatment of influenza and acute respiratory infections in Ukraine are used 191 trade names of drugs in the form of 11 dosage forms. According to results of the research the main bulk of medicines consist of the tablet dosage form (45.55 %), capsules (6.28 %) and powders (21.99 %), use of which for children aged up to 3 years is problematic. The most effective formulations for children (syrups, suppositories) comprise only 8.37 % of the required range of medicines. Antiviral drugs for systemic use belong to two classes: cyclic amines (rimantadine) and neuraminidase inhibitors (zanamivir and oseltamivir). Analysis of the range of antiviral drugs indicates that only one product – oseltamivir can be used for treatment of influenza in children aged from one to five years. At the same time zanamivir is used for treatment of influenza in children older than 5 years, and rimantadine for treatment of children who are over 7 years. Conclusions. It was found that the list of regular use of antiviral drugs for prevention and treatment of influenza in children contains only three names. And only one drug – Oseltamivir can be used for treatment of influenza in children aged from one to five years. It was also found that the prevention and treatment of influenza and acute respiratory infections in children are used primarily tablets, capsules and other dosage forms for adults.