Antiviral drugs for children from 1 year old

It’s normal to want to get your child better as soon as possible when they have a cold or the flu. Antiviral medications are frequently thought of as a treatment option for these infections, particularly in younger children whose symptoms can be more severe. Finding the best course of action for a child as young as a year old can be difficult, though. What drugs are appropriate for young children, safe, and effective should be known to parents.

Making the best choice for your child’s health depends on your understanding of how antiviral medications function and which ones are appropriate for young children. These drugs try to lessen symptoms and accelerate healing by attacking the viruses that cause diseases like the flu. However, not all antiviral medications are made equal, and some might be better suited for particular age ranges.

The different antiviral options that are available for children as early as one year old will be discussed in this article. We’ll talk about the effects of these drugs, when to use them, and things to think about before giving them to your kids. Gaining more knowledge about these therapies will help you feel more comfortable overseeing your child’s illness and assisting in their recuperation.

Mechanism of action

The class of medications known as "antiviral drugs" encompasses a wide range of variations in form and mode of action.

Anti-influenza medications, like "Arbidol," belong to a different category. It is their responsibility to target the influenza viruses A and B as well as any potential strains.

Antiherpetic medications, such as "Acyclovir," come next. Their purview encompasses herpes viruses, of which there are numerous varieties.

Immunostimulants and immunomodulators "push" the child’s immunity, enabling the body to respond to the virus as quickly as possible.

Interferons are medications that contain human interferon proteins that are extracted from donor blood cells and treated in a lab to rid them of various viruses. These proteins are required to block the virus and stop its replication. Such drugs enable the body to combat the "invaders" more quickly.

Drugs known as inducers of endogenous interferon synthesis have a straightforward mechanism hidden beneath their complicated names. These medications initiate the process of the sick person’s body producing its own interferons, which are essential for the ultimate victory over viruses, as we have already discovered.

Additionally, there are chemical medications that directly and simply affect the virus, as well as homeopathic remedies, the efficacy of which has not yet been clinically established from the perspective of official medicine.

Antiviral medications come from synthetic, semi-synthetic, and plant sources.

The primary characteristic of this class of medications is their dual role of disease treatment and disease prevention.

When selecting antiviral medications for children as young as one year old, it’s critical to consider the child’s general health, safety, and effectiveness. These drugs should only be taken under a pediatrician’s supervision as they can help control symptoms and lessen the severity of viral infections. Parents can make educated decisions about their child’s health by being aware of the best options and any possible drawbacks.

Features of use: pros and cons

When their one-year-old child is sick with the flu, the parents’ only goal is to get their child better as soon as possible. Hence, in ninety percent of the cases, well-meaning mothers and fathers head straight to the pharmacy, where the pharmacist suggests a children’s antiviral medication based on the baby’s age and good reviews. Furthermore, as soon as the baby’s body temperature rises above the psychological threshold of 37.5, we dash to grab the medication.

From the beginning, all of these actions are irrational and incorrect. First of all, a child suffering from a viral cold needs calm, knowledgeable adults rather than worried, uneasy parents. Make a house call to a doctor as soon as possible. He will advise you on the necessity of antiviral therapy and recommend a particular medication. Not a pharmacy clerk, but a doctor!

Antiviral medication use is generally a contentious topic. Many medical professionals, including renowned pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky, who is regarded as an authority by millions of mothers, think that a child can handle an acute respiratory viral infection or the flu on his own, without the need for medication.

In particular, Komarovsky claims that the sick child does not necessarily need to take antiviral syrups and tablets; rather, his parents do so to reassure themselves that everything was done and that the baby will recover and feel well thanks to the miracle medication.

His show is available to watch here:

In one way or another, almost all antiviral medications put strain on the child’s immune system, which is obviously harmful, particularly when the child is a year old and the immunity-building phase is underway. The child’s natural defense system is out of balance. Consequently, the infant starts to become ill more frequently, the illnesses themselves become more severe, and the likelihood of complications rises.

Antiviral medications are actually quite inexpensive these days, available without a prescription, and heavily promoted on television. As a result, concerned parents give their kids a ton of pills for any reason. We are thus rearing a generation of kids with weakened immune systems.

You do not need to purchase antiviral medications on a hysterical basis if you do not want to raise a feeble, perpetually ill child who, by the time she is ten, will have a full complement of illnesses, including chronic ones. It is preferable to let the infant’s immunity develop and solidify naturally.

Indications

My goal is not to persuade you that antiviral medications are bad and harmful. Not every time. only when using excessively and methodically. Of course, there are instances where a baby needs these medications.

In a few situations, a doctor will prescribe an antiviral medication:

• If your one-year-old baby has a fever that does not go down for more than three days. Fever in the understanding of doctors and parents are two different things. Take antiviral drugs not at 37.5, but only if the thermometer stubbornly shows a temperature above 38.5. Everything below is a normal reaction of the child"s immune system to the virus. Above is also a normal reaction, but a still weak baby at the age of 1 year in a strong long heat can experience intoxication of the body, which leads to dehydration, convulsions. To prevent this, antiviral drugs are prescribed. Sometimes in tandem with antipyretics.
• If the child has a severe viral infection. When various complications develop rapidly with the flu or acute respiratory viral infection – in the throat, lungs, bronchi, etc.. Such diseases will be considered a secondary infection, and the doctor will treat them symptomatically. If the complications are viral – with antiviral drugs, if bacterial – with antibiotics. In some cases, the doctor will prescribe both. Laboratory tests and the experience of a competent pediatrician help to distinguish viral from microbial ailments. Moms and dads should not make diagnoses on their own. A mistake can be expensive.

A one-year-old child suffering from severe rotavirus, intestinal, herpes, adenovirus, enterovirus, complicated chickenpox, measles, shingles, viral eye disease, and numerous other illnesses is highly likely to be prescribed antiviral medications.

Treatment and prevention

When selecting an antiviral medication for a one-year-old child, keep in mind that various medications in this class have significant differences.

Chemical medications (like rimantadine) not only rapidly eradicate the virus but also profoundly "beat" throughout the children’s bodies. Such medications are not always contraindicated for the GODOVIKs, but the doctor should make that decision after weighing the potential benefits and risks.

Immunomodulators and immunostimulants, like "cytovir-3" and "thymogen," have an adverse effect on a child’s immunity, and their frequent use can be extremely harmful. Children who have blood relatives with diabetes mellitus, cancer, or other immune system disorders should not take such medications.

Interferons with a "non-native" to the child have a plethora of adverse effects. Among these medications are Interferon and several others.

Physicians acknowledge that antiviral medications are a reasonably effective way to prevent viral infections. Antiviral medications should only be given to children during epidemic seasons or whenever there is an infected person in their immediate surroundings in order to prevent illness. Half of therapeutic doses are used for preventive purposes! A child over the age of one should receive a medication with an antiviral effect no more than twice a year, for two to three weeks, in order to prevent influenza and acute respiratory viral infections. Additionally, with weekly regimens, the drug is administered for two days followed by a five-day break.

Selecting the appropriate antiviral drug for a child is a crucial duty for caregivers. Effectiveness and safety are important considerations for infants as young as one year old. It’s crucial to choose medications that have been specially approved for young children and to pay close attention to dosage recommendations.

It’s best to speak with a pediatrician before giving any antiviral medication. They can advise you on whether antiviral therapy is appropriate for your child’s specific symptoms and general health.

Recall that antiviral medications work best when taken as soon as symptoms appear. By reducing the intensity and length of the illness, early intervention can improve your child’s comfort and hasten their recovery.

Lastly, remember the fundamentals even though medication can be beneficial. Adequate rest, adequate hydration, and a healthy diet are essential for a child’s recuperation. They will heal faster if you naturally support their immune system in addition to any prescribed treatments.

Video on the topic

ARPEFLU. Antiviral and immunomodulatory drug

The whole truth about ANTIVIRAL DRUGS | Remedies | Medicines | for CHILDREN and ADULTS | Harm

Antiviral drugs for children under 1 year and older.

Grippferon: ARVI, Flu, prevention of ARVI and Flu, antiviral, immunomodulator, pregnant women

Immunomodulators for colds (does a child with ARVI need antivirals, how to boost immunity).

ANTIVIRAL 🦠