When a child gets sick, any parent, even a persistent one, begins to worry and worry. And every mother, even before the doctor arrives, begins to actively treat the child at the first sign of a cold. Of course, you shouldn’t mindlessly give your child cold medicine! There are indications for prescribing any drug: type of infection, symptoms, age of the child, etc. What to give your child at the first sign of a cold? What cold medicine can be given to children? To answer all my mother’s questions, it is necessary to understand such a concept as “cold.”
What is a "cold"
Let's consider the main types of diseases that we used to call “colds”:
ARVI is a group of diseases caused by a viral infection. There are approximately 200 different diseases that are included in this group (adenovirus, rhinovirus, influenza, parainfluenza, etc.).
Parents often think that an antibiotic pill will help alleviate the symptoms of any illness. But when treating ARVI, treatment with antibiotics is completely inappropriate, because antibiotics are a group of drugs that help us fight bacteria, not viruses.
Influenza is a viral disease, one of the most severe acute respiratory viral infections. The symptoms of this disease are more pronounced, resulting in various complications. There are three types of influenza: A (the most insidious, quickly spreads and mutates), B (a milder form, the body easily acquires immunity to it) and C (a rare form that occurs in children and the elderly).
Acute respiratory infections are a group of respiratory tract diseases that can be caused by viruses and bacteria. Acute respiratory infection in children can occur as an independent disease, or as a consequence of a previous cold (a bacterial infection is also associated with a viral attack against a background of weakened immunity). In this case, the illness lasts longer and it becomes necessary to take cold medicine to combat both types of infection.
General strengthening of the immune system
To improve the functioning of the immune system (which guarantees a speedy recovery for the baby), you need to use antiviral agents and interferon inducers, for example:
- Viferon suppositories (can be used even for diseases of newborns);
- Cycloferon (for children over 4 years old);
- Remantadine (indicated for patients over 7 years of age);
- Laferon (suitable for treating newborns), etc.
Suppositories Viferon
An herbal remedy for colds such as Immunal perfectly stimulates the functioning of the immune system. In the form of a solution, it is prescribed to children from one year old, in the form of tablets - starting from 4 years.
Main symptoms of a cold
Every mother knows what a baby with a cold looks like. Let's take a closer look at the first signs of acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections in children:
- With acute respiratory infections: your health gradually worsens, sneezing occurs, in the first hours a runny nose and nasal congestion appear, the next day there is a sore throat, a temperature of up to 38 degrees;
- With ARVI: Feeling worsens faster, intoxication of the body is observed (body aches, severe chills), increased fatigue, headache, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, high temperature 38-40 degrees;
Symptoms of uncomplicated acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections in children, with proper treatment, disappear within a week and do not leave any consequences. After suffering from influenza or severe acute respiratory viral infection, a child may experience various side complications (cough, fatigue, loss of appetite, etc.) for a month. Therefore, it is important to know how to treat a cold in a child so that the disease goes away as quickly as possible and without complications.
Ion channel blockers
Flu medications for children belonging to this group do not allow viruses to attach to cells. Due to this, infection does not occur at all if the medicine was used for prophylactic purposes, or recovery occurs much faster.
Children over 7 years of age can take Remantadine, an antiviral medicine, for the flu, as a result of which the number of active viruses that have entered the body begins to rapidly decrease.
The child should be given antiviral medication according to the schedule prescribed by the doctor.
Help with the first manifestations of cold symptoms in a child
If your child gets sick, you need to take it seriously. After all, his immune system has not yet fully matured and any cold is stressful for the child and his body. Here's what you can do before the doctor arrives:
- First of all, when a child has a cold, it is necessary to put him to bed and provide him with proper rest.
- Any cold or respiratory virus begins with a runny nose and sore throat, so you need to try to stop the inflammatory process (rinse your nose and throat as often as possible, and help very young children get rid of mucus in the nose).
- Provide your child with plenty of fluids. The disease will go away faster if the child drinks more often.
- Try not to lower the temperature to 38 degrees so that the immune system continues to fight the virus.
- If your child does not have allergies, you can give him vitamin C or complex vitamins for children.
Treatment of runny nose for colds
If the child’s nose is stuffy and the baby cannot sleep peacefully at night, parents should consult with their pediatrician about prescribing nasal vasoconstrictor drops:
- Nazivina (can be used if the child is 1 month old);
- Tizina (from 3 years old);
- Pinosola (from 3 years old);
- Galazolina (from 6 years old);
- Ksilina (from 2 years old) go etc.
You should not use children's vasoconstrictor drops and sprays unless absolutely necessary. The maximum duration of the course should not exceed 5-7 days.
List of inexpensive effective antiviral drugs
They are drugs that can stop the development of infection. Antiviral cold medications should be used first. Popular medications “Arbidol” and “Kagocel” have a high cost, but they can be replaced with inexpensive and effective drugs with a high therapeutic result. These include:
1. Remantadine (Biokhimik, Russia). Destroys viral particles after they are introduced into cells, interrupts the reproduction of viruses. Prescribed for the treatment of influenza A in the early stages. Children over seven years old are allowed.
- Tablets 50 mg 20 pieces - 64 rubles.
2. Cycloferon (Polisan, Russia). The active component of the drug meglumine acridone acetate stimulates the immune system, has high antiviral activity, and stops the inflammatory process. Stimulates the body's reproduction of its own interferon, which helps to effectively treat diseases of viral etiology.
The drug has been proven to be highly effective in the treatment of bronchitis, influenza and other acute inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system resulting from pneumotropic viruses. Immunomodulatory properties make it possible to use cycloferon for the prevention of ARVI.
- Packaging of tablets 150 mg 10 pcs. - 155 rubles, 20 pieces - 323 rubles.
3. Interferon (Microgen, Russian Federation). It is a powerful agent that suppresses viruses that provoke the development of acute respiratory diseases. The active substance is interferon alpha. It is used to eliminate and prevent influenza and ARVI. The solution is used in different ways: in the form of inhalation, which is considered the best method, or used as nasal drops, instilling them into the nasal passage twice a day, 25 ml.
- A pack of 1000 IU 4 dry doses - 82 rubles.
Summarize
From the article you learned which cold medicines are prescribed most often and what they can be replaced with. It is not recommended to choose an analogue of the drug on your own. Despite this, many patients do not listen to this rule. It is worth remembering that when choosing a generic version of an expensive drug, you should pay attention to its composition, dosage and restrictions. Many cheap medications are not thoroughly tested and therefore have more contraindications. Save on your health without harming yourself, all the best!
Every year, with the onset of cold, damp weather, the likelihood of catching a cold increases. As a rule, widely advertised medicines for colds cost a lot of money, but why overpay if you can buy inexpensive and effective medicines for colds with a similar active ingredient in the composition.
The therapeutic effect from them is identical. Of course, it is not wise to independently diagnose and prescribe treatment and you should definitely consult a doctor, but every person should know that there are identical structural medications, the cost of which can be several times lower.
To eliminate the disease, antiviral medications, cold drops, anti-inflammatory antibiotics, and cough medications are required. Timely initiation of therapy helps to quickly overcome the disease.
COLD MEDICINE FOR CHILDREN
Yes, only a doctor should select a cold medicine for children (and for adults too). And in order to make the correct diagnosis and select the appropriate treatment regimen, he will need not only a personal examination of the small patient, but also, possibly, ordering additional tests. After all, there are more than two hundred different types of ARVI and influenza viruses.
Perhaps the doctor will recommend Ergoferon as a drug for colds. This modern antiviral drug is designed specifically to combat various types of ARVI and influenza viruses. At the same time, the drug can help reduce inflammation in the upper respiratory tract and alleviate the main symptoms of colds and flu, as well as support the still fragile immunity of the young body.
The use of Ergoferon for children in the treatment of ARVI is permitted from the age of 6 months.
So, the first step has been taken - now the next steps. Moreover, they are just as necessary. Subject to “reposting” to all parent chats.
Prevention is the most effective treatment. The best cure for colds for children is to prevent colds, strengthen the immune system and establish a reliable “defensive barrier.”
Prevention means proper children's sleep and a full menu: more fresh vegetables and fruits, meat and cereals, fish and seafood (in the absence of allergies, of course!) - they contain vitamins and essential microelements.
Prevention is a daily intake of fresh air, preferably in the form of physical education and other outdoor games. This is compliance with the rules of personal hygiene, for which adults should set a personal example. These are hardening procedures, and again, they must be demonstrated according to the most effective principle “Do as I do!” (not “Do as I say.”)
“Nothing unusual,” someone will say. Naturally. But how unusual and pleasant it is to then understand that even in the worst weather your child is invariably healthy and cheerful!
Immunomodulators for colds and flu
If the cold or flu persists, the pediatrician may decide to prescribe an immunomodulator. But ideally, drugs of this group should be taken for the purpose of prevention (to avoid getting sick) or when the disease has already receded (to boost immunity). Well proven:
- IRS 19. Medicine based on bacterial lysates. Qualitatively increases nonspecific and specific immunity. It should be sprayed onto the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity. IRS 19 is safe and suitable even for treating babies over 3 months of age.
- Imudon. An immunostimulant widely used in ENT practice. Recommended for children over 3 years of age who often suffer from sore throats, pharyngitis, and stomatitis.
- Broncho-munal. Designed to increase immunity in children over 6 months prone to upper respiratory tract diseases.
- Immunal. The main active ingredient of the medicine is the herb Echinacea purpurea.
IRS 19
It is necessary to understand that only an immunologist can prescribe an immunomodulator to a child, taking into account the individual characteristics of the little patient’s orgasm, his tendency to certain diseases, and the presence of allergic reactions to certain substances.
Should expensive things be replaced with cheap ones: reviews
Is it really possible to find a good cheap cold remedy? Or is it better not to take risks and take expensive drugs that have already become familiar to everyone? What do doctors think about this?
Doctors report that some cheap drugs are sometimes better than expensive ones. Unfortunately, recently you can increasingly hear about counterfeit medicines. At the same time, the choice of ill-wishers falls on expensive drugs. After all, it is more profitable to counterfeit a medicine for 1000 rubles than one that costs 20 rubles. In this regard, doctors have recently been trying to prescribe inexpensive generics. But doctors still collaborate with pharmaceutical companies, promoting their drugs. Therefore, this issue remains controversial to this day.
Judging by consumer reviews, we can say that cheap cold medicines are no worse than expensive drugs. The stereotype that expensive means good is gradually crumbling. Perhaps, soon all consumers will take long-proven and inexpensive drugs, abandoning new drugs at exorbitant prices.
Drugs that enhance interferon production
The following drugs are responsible for increasing the production of interferons - proteins that are produced by the body in response to the invasion of the virus:
- Amiksin. Refers to broad-spectrum flu medications. Contains tilorone. Indicated for sick children over 7 years of age.
- Kagocel. For medicinal purposes, children from 3 to 6 years old take 1 tablet 2 times a day during the first two days of illness, and then reduce the dose by 2 times. If the patient is already 6 years old, the pediatrician will prescribe a different dose - 1 tablet 3 times a day in the first two days of treatment, and then 1-2 tablets.
- Tsitovir 3. Can be given to children over 1 year of age. But syrup is contraindicated if the baby has high muscle tone, diabetes, or increased blood clotting.
- Cycloferon. Approved for use by children over 4 years old. The child should take the medicine once a day.
Kagocel
