The article was checked by an otolaryngologist
Natalya Aleksandrovna Naumova, Medis Clinic
Albucid, eye drops that effectively eliminate conjunctivitis and other eye infections, is always present in the home medicine cabinet of young parents. The modern drug is produced under the trade name “Sodium Sulfacyl”. Many pediatricians recommend instilling sodium sulfacyl into the nose in the presence of infectious discharge. What are these recommendations related to, and is this medicine really effective for sinus infections?
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In what form is sodium sulfacil available?
The drug Sulfacyl sodium is available in the form of an aqueous solution of the active substance. 1 ml of drops contains 200 mg of sulfacetamide, a drug from the sulfonamide group that has antimicrobial and antibacterial effects. Sulfacetamide is an intermediate product in the synthesis of streptocide.
The drug is supplied to the pharmacy chain in the form of a solution placed in bottles, dropper bottles and dropper tubes of the following volume:
- 1 ml;
- 5 ml;
- 10 ml.
The concentration of the active substance may also vary. For adults and children over 12 years of age, sodium sulfacyl 30% is used, for young children - 20%.
Sodium sulfacyl eye drops - description of the drug
Eye drops in medical practice are used quite effectively to eliminate inflammatory processes.
But only if the microorganisms that cause the disease are sensitive to the active substance sulfacetamide. Price from 40 rub.
Sulfacyl sodium belongs to the group of sulfonamides (streptocide, norsulfazole and others from the same category). Drugs that were previously used to treat and prevent wound infections. They were administered orally as injections, intravenously.
Sodium sulfacyl is produced by the pharmacological industry in various pharmaceutical forms. It can be:
- Bottles in cardboard packaging;
- Dropper bottles in a cardboard box;
- Dropper tubes in cardboard packaging;
- Ointment for external use (tubes of 10 grams);
- Sterile solutions, both for intramuscular and intravenous administration (ampoules);
- Powder.
The containers have different amounts of medicine - 5 ml, 10 ml. In dropper tubes the dose of medicine is 1.5 ml. They are packaged in two tubes in a cardboard box, which also contains instructions for use.
The concentration of sulfacetamide also varies. There are 10, 20 and 30% solutions. Color - transparent or slightly colored. Sodium sulfacyl has the following properties:
- Activates the body's immune system.
- Inhibits the synthesis of tetrahydrofolic acid. In turn, this negatively affects the correct microstructure of deoxyribonucleic and ribonucleic acid in the cells of harmful microorganisms. They completely lose their ability to reproduce, gradually dying off, leaving no new ones in the body.
- Creates an unfavorable environment for a variety of pathogenic bacteria, which ultimately leads to their death.
The drug has an exclusively local effect and its components do not enter the circulatory system, and if they do, they are absorbed in very limited quantities.
The solution has an alkaline reaction and therefore is safe for the mucous membranes and conjunctiva.
How the drug works
The main therapeutic effect of sodium sulfacyl is the ability to suppress microbial flora. The active component has a slightly alkaline reaction. It breaks down enzymes involved in the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines, which are part of the DNA of pathogenic microflora. Losing the ability to reproduce, microbes gradually die.
The medicine Sulfacyl sodium is not an antibiotic. It only facilitates the functioning of the immune system. Therefore, it is not used to treat eye and nose infections in children with weak immune systems.
The active substance not only suppresses the activity of viruses and bacteria, but also dries out the mucous membrane, reducing the volume of secretions. Thanks to this property, inflammation of the eye tissues and nasal sinuses is reduced. The use of the drug is relevant for infants who are not able to blow their nose on their own.
Indications for use
The instructions that come with this drug do not say that sodium sulfacyl can be instilled into the nose for a runny nose. After all, these drops are designed specifically for the eyes. But if you have inflammation due to a bacterial infection, then your doctor may prescribe this particular remedy for instillation into the nasal cavity. By the way, it is quite difficult to distinguish a bacterial runny nose from a viral one. That is why in case of such a deviation it is advisable to consult a doctor. Indeed, with a long course of the disease and a weak human immune system, a viral infection can gradually transform into a bacterial infection, which Sodium Sulfacyl quite successfully fights. It should be instilled into the nose only after consultation with a doctor and with symptoms such as a prolonged runny nose and swelling of the mucous membrane.
Features of the use of drops for the treatment of children
Sulfacyl sodium is approved for use at any age, and even in newborns. Indications for its use are the following pathological conditions:
- conjunctivitis (viral and bacterial);
- keratitis (infectious and traumatic);
- blepharitis.
Sulfacyl sodium is also prescribed for preventive purposes. The use of the drug helps prevent the development of infectious eye diseases in infants and suppuration after foreign bodies get into the eyes. They treat the eyes before surgery and after surgery.
The powerful antimicrobial effect of the drops allows them to be used to treat nasal diseases. It is recommended to instill Sulfacyl sodium into the nose for a runny nose caused by viruses and bacteria. The presence of a bacterial infection is indicated by yellow or green mucus coming from the nose.
Treatment of nasal infections in children should be carried out only after consultation with a pediatrician or otolaryngologist. To reduce the feeling of discomfort, the bottle is pre-warmed in your hands. Sulfacyl sodium can cause a burning sensation that goes away on its own after 2-3 minutes. You can avoid its appearance by diluting the solution with water in equal quantities.
Before using the medicine, the nasal mucosa is first washed with saline solution. For the first time, it is recommended to drop 1 drop and observe the baby’s condition. If there is no allergic reaction, you can begin treatment.
Sulfacyl sodium in the nose
Sulfacyl sodium drops, also known as Albucid, are sometimes prescribed by doctors into the nose, despite the fact that these are eye drops.
They have a pronounced antibacterial effect, which, in addition to killing bacteria, relieves inflammation.
In ophthalmology, they are intended for the treatment of purulent ulcers, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, blenorrhea and other diseases caused by streptococci, pneumococci and gonococci. Since this medication is intended for the delicate tissue of the eye, it naturally cannot harm the nasal mucosa, and therefore doctors sometimes prescribe it to treat a runny nose caused by bacteria sensitive to the main active ingredient.
Sulfacyl Sodium in the nose - instructions
The prescription of Sulfacyl sodium nasal drops must be confirmed by a doctor in order to avoid incorrect treatment and complications.
Sulfacyl sodium - indications for use
The classic instructions indicate that these drops are used in the eyes for inflammatory infectious lesions. When it comes to using sodium sulfacyl for the nose, the main indication here is also inflammation due to a bacterial infection.
It is not easy to distinguish a viral runny nose from a bacterial one - sometimes a viral infection can transform into a bacterial one with a long illness and weak immunity, and therefore you should not assume that the onset of a viral illness is a guarantee of the absence of a bacterial one.
In case of bacterial infection of the nose, the main symptom and indication for the use of Sulfacyl sodium is nasal congestion - runny nose, swelling of the mucous membrane. When there is a virus, nasal discharge is clear in color, and when a bacterial infection occurs, the mucus has a greenish and yellowish tint. The color of the discharge can accurately indicate the nature of the infection.
Application of Sulfacyl sodium
Sulfacyl sodium for a runny nose is sometimes prescribed to young children, since they do not have the vasoconstrictor effect that almost all modern drops have for the treatment of a runny nose - viral, allergic and bacterial etiology. Many believe that the vasoconstrictor effect is significantly harmful to health and is addictive, which is undesirable especially in childhood.
Another reason why a doctor may prescribe sodium sulfacyl for the nose is the low cost of the medication. In modern pharmacology, there are quite a lot of medications that are unreasonably overpriced in the presence of inexpensive analogues. Pharmaceutical companies thus receive money for brand promotion and beautiful packaging design.
Doctors prescribe sodium sulfacyl 20% drops into the nose. This is the ideal concentration to destroy bacteria without harming the body.
It should also be noted that sodium sulfacil is stored for no longer than 7 days after opening the bottle.
How many days do you need to drip Sulfacyl sodium?
The duration of treatment of a runny nose with Sulfacyl sodium drops depends on the severity of the disease and the effect they have on recovery. In the classic example, sodium sulfacyl is used 2 drops in each nostril 3 times a day for 7 days. It is advisable to clean and rinse your nose with warm water before use.
But the duration of treatment should be prescribed by the doctor individually - if the drops are ineffective, replace them with another antibacterial agent with a different active ingredient, or prescribe an extension of treatment with these drops.
Sulfacyl sodium - contraindications
Sulfacyl sodium drops have a minimum of contraindications - individual intolerance to the drug, as well as pregnancy and lactation. Some doctors believe that these drops can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Dosages for treating nasal infections
The dosage is selected taking into account the patient’s age:
- For babies under 1 year old, one drop is dripped into the nose into each nostril no more than 4 times a day;
- from 1 year to 3 years – two drops in each nostril no more than 3 times a day;
- over 3 years – 3 drops in each nostril three times a day.
During the procedure, the child is placed in a horizontal position, with his head slightly tilted back. Having dripped into one nostril, it is pressed against the nasal septum and held in this state for 5 seconds.
Sulfacyl sodium is a universal medicine. Possessing an antimicrobial effect, it can effectively cope with ear infections. It can be used to treat acute otitis media by dropping 1-2 drops into the ears three times a day.
Treatment of infectious diseases of the nose is carried out within a week. If there is no positive effect, you should contact your pediatrician.
The effect of the drug on the children's body
We already know that sodium sulfacyl is a good bacteriostatic drug.
It prevents bacteria from multiplying and encourages the body to fight the infection on its own. The secret of the drug is that it contains sulfonamide, which is very close to para-aminobenzoic acid, thanks to which microbes live and multiply. Sodium sulfacyl very quickly enters into a chemical reaction instead of the harmful acid, which disrupts the vital activity of microbes. Pediatricians prescribe sodium sulfacil to be instilled into a child’s nose from the first days of life, explaining that it has few side effects. At the same time, the product has a good drying effect and kills bacteria. Small children do not know how to blow their nose, and thanks to albucid, inflammation of the sinuses becomes less, and the mucus comes out easier. It is easy to remove with an aspirator.
Such drops do not have the vasoconstrictor effect that many modern drugs for the treatment of the common cold have. This action is undesirable in principle and is addictive, especially for children.
Despite the fact that the drug is safe, it should not be used in newborns without consulting a pediatrician. Albucid has a powerful antimicrobial effect, so in some cases it can harm the baby.
Possible adverse reactions
Nasal drops have a local antimicrobial effect. They are practically not absorbed into the systemic bloodstream and do not affect the functioning of internal organs. But when using them, the following side effects may occur:
- redness and swelling of the eyes;
- sneezing and runny nose of an allergic nature;
- burning sensation in the nose and eyes;
- sensation of the presence of a foreign body.
When putting drops into the nose, you should remember that they go into the throat, and from there into the stomach. Therefore, the child may experience indigestion and other dyspeptic disorders.
Can sodium sulfacyl be used with other medications?
The drug is incompatible with other drops containing silver salts, zinc sulfate and acidic substances. The effect of sodium sulfate is reduced when using Novocaine, Anestezin and Dicaine. When interacting with Diphenin, salicylates and para-aminosalicylic acid, the toxicity of the drops increases.
When treating complex infections, your doctor may recommend several drops at once. In this case, you must wait 15 minutes before using the new medicine.
Selecting an analogue
Sulfacyl sodium is ideal for treating young children. But it has the ability to cause burning and discomfort. If an allergic reaction occurs, you should consult a doctor who will select another drug that has a similar effect. There are several of them in the pharmacy chain.
Tobrex . Tobrex contains tobramycin, a substance with antibacterial activity. It is allowed to be used to treat children over 1 year of age. Tobrex cannot be used in combination with aminoglycosides.
Tsipromed . The active ingredient is ciprofloxacin, an antibacterial agent from the group of fluoroquinolones. The effectiveness of the drug is due to its rapid action, which lasts for 4 hours. The use of Tsipromed is allowed from 1 year.
Oftaquix . This is an antimicrobial agent containing levofloxacin hemihydrate. It is also used for local treatment of infectious processes in children over 1 year of age.
Levomycetin . The drug is available in the form of a solution, bottled in dropper bottles. It has broad antibacterial activity, making it effective for treating diseases of the eyes, nose and ears.
Normax . This medicine comes in the form of a clear or light yellow solution. Normax is intended for the treatment of adults, so it is prescribed to children and adolescents only in special cases.
Locally. To treat conjunctivitis in children and adults, instill 1-2 drops of solution into the conjunctival sac every hour, and 5-6 times a day for the next 3-4 days.
For the treatment of blepharitis in children and adults, the frequency of instillations in the first days is up to 6-8 times and decreases to 3-4 times a day as the condition improves, the duration of treatment is 3-5 days.
For the treatment of purulent corneal ulcers as part of complex therapy in the form of instillations 5-6 times a day, for 5-7 days.
To prevent blenorrhea in newborns, 2 drops into each conjunctival sac immediately after birth and 2 drops every 2 hours during the day; for the treatment of blenorrhea, 2 drops into each conjunctival sac every 1-2 hours on the first day, then every 3 hours, treatment duration is two weeks.
In the treatment of gonorrheal and chlamydial eye diseases in adults as part of complex therapy, 1-2 drops 5-6 times a day, for 4-6 weeks. If the dynamics are positive during the treatment, the number of instillations of drops is reduced in each subsequent week.
Recommendations for using bottles with dropper caps: before using the drug, remove the aluminum cap from the bottle, remove the rubber stopper and close the bottle with the dropper cap, previously removed from the packaging. Then remove the cap from the dropper cap, turn the bottle over, and add the required number of drops of the drug. After use, return the bottle to a vertical position and put the cap on the lid - dropper.
Recommendations for using dropper tubes: before using the medicine, remove the protective cap from the dropper tube and cut off the membrane of the body neck with scissors without damaging the threaded part. Turn the body of the dropper tube with the medicine neck down and gently press the body of the dropper tube, using it as a pipette. After using the dose recommended by the doctor or indicated in the instructions for use of the medicinal product, turn the body of the dropper tube over with the threaded part up and screw on the protective cap.
Wash your hands before using eye drops. Do not touch the dropper or pipette to your eyes or hands. The opening of the pipette and dropper is sterile. If it becomes dirty. this may cause an eye infection. Apply gentle pressure to the inner corner of the eye (near the nose) after each drop to prevent fluid from leaking through the tear ducts.
