Is it worth using “Enterofuril” for rotavirus infection in children?

Children frequently contract rotavirus infections, which frequently cause uncomfortable symptoms like fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. Naturally, parents want to find the best course of action to reduce their child’s suffering and expedite their recovery.

Enterofuril is an antimicrobial medication that is often mentioned in this context. It’s frequently used to treat a variety of intestinal and stomach infections, but is it the best option for treating pediatric rotavirus?

The purpose of this article is to assist parents in making decisions regarding their child’s health by examining whether Enterofuril is a safe and effective treatment for rotavirus in children.

Form and composition of the drug

"Enterofuril" is presented in two different dosage forms, but the main component of both types of medication is nifuroxazide. The drug in suspension is a yellow liquid with the smell and taste of banana, containing 200 mg of the active ingredient in 5 milliliters. It is supplemented with sucrose, water, sodium hydroxide and some other compounds. Such liquid "Enterofuril" is sold in 90 ml bottles. The second form of the drug is capsules with a gelatin shell and yellow powder inside. They can contain 100 mg of nifuroxazide (such capsules are slightly smaller in size, yellow in color and are sold in packs of 30 pieces) or 200 mg of the active substance (these capsules are larger, brown and packed in blisters of 8 pieces, and one box contains 2 or 4 blisters). The list of inactive components of such "Enterofuril" includes microcrystalline cellulose, sucrose, titanium dioxide and other substances.

How it works?

"Enterofuril" is one of the popular remedies used for diarrhea. This medicine is classified as an intestinal antiseptic, since it can affect one of the main causes of diarrhea – pathogenic microbes. Since the drug acts only in the intestines and does not enter the bloodstream, it is considered safe for children. For this reason, "Enterofuril" can be given to small patients in the form of a suspension even in the first year of life (it is not prescribed only to newborns, that is, in the first month after birth). The drug in capsules is used from the age of three, when the child can already swallow it. Nifuroxazide in both forms of the drug affects some metabolic processes that occur in the cells of the pathogen. Due to this effect, the membranes of microbial cells are destroyed and the pathogenic microorganism dies.

Nevertheless, "Enterofuril" does not eliminate helpful microflora, so dysbacteriosis does not happen following a course of treatment with this medication.

When is it prescribed to children?

Enterofuril is primarily prescribed for intestinal infections in children because it targets harmful bacteria. The medication is used to treat infections caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli, Shigella, salmonella, Clostridium, and other microorganisms.

Is it used for rotavirus infection?

Enterofuril is sometimes prescribed for rotavirus infection, despite the fact that it is ineffective against rotaviruses or any other viruses that can affect the intestines. This is because the medication in question has the capacity to stop bacterial complications from arising from rotavirus infections.

Enterofuril does not, however, directly combat this pathogen, so using it to treat rotavirus infection requires consulting the attending physician.

When is it contraindicated?

If hypersensitivity to any of the drug’s ingredients is found, the medication is not prescribed. Enterofuril should not be administered to children who have genetic disorders that affect their ability to metabolize sugar, such as those who lack fructose or sucrose intolerance, since both forms of the medication contain sucrose. Enterofuril has no additional contraindications to its use.

Many parents are uncertain whether "Enterofuril" is the best option when it comes to treating rotavirus infections in children. Although rotavirus is a viral infection, antibiotics such as "Enterofuril" won’t directly fight the virus. Instead, they are frequently used to treat bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract. As opposed to giving your child unnecessary medication, which might not help and even have negative side effects, concentrate on keeping your child hydrated and see a doctor for the best course of action.

How to take?

The drug is given regardless of the diet at equal intervals of 12, 8 or 6 hours. The suspension is taken with a spoon, which is included with the bottle. A single dose of such sweet Enterofuril for children from 1 month to 3 years old is 2.5 ml, for a child over three years old – 5 ml. The frequency of taking the medicine per day depends on the age of the child and the manifestations of the disease. The drug in capsules should be swallowed and washed down with juice, water or compote. A patient over 3 years old is given 200 mg of the active ingredient per appointment, that is, 2 capsules of 100 mg at once or one capsule with a dosage of 200 mg. At the age of 3-7 years, the child can take Enterofuril three times a day (600 mg of nifuroxazida per day), and for children over seven years old, four-time reception is shown (daily dosage will be 800 mg).

The illness and the patient’s body’s response to "enterofourila" intake determine how long the treatment will take. The child is usually given the medication for 5-7 days, but if the diarrhea has stopped earlier, the child can resume taking the medication 12 hours after the last episode of liquid stool. Regardless, "Enterofuril" is only taken for a maximum of seven days.

Maintaining the children’s comfort and hydration is crucial when treating rotavirus in children. Enterofuril and other medications may be helpful for bacterial infections, but they are not always advised for viral infections such as rotavirus.

A healthcare provider should always be consulted before administering any medication to a child. For children, rest, fluids, and appropriate care are usually sufficient to aid in their recovery from rotavirus.

The best course of action is to listen to your doctor’s advice and make sure your child receives the assistance they require for a comfortable and safe recovery.

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