Treating ARVI, influenza and other viral infections is usually more difficult than preventing them, especially in childhood. For successful prevention, take drugs with an immunomodulatory effect, for example, Viferon ointment. This is an inexpensive and quite effective drug that can be used not only by adults, but also by newborns, including premature babies.
Ointment "Viferon": composition, description
This is an antiviral drug that strengthens the immune system. The composition contains interferon protein, which belongs to the alpha-2b type. Available in different forms:
- ointment;
- candles;
- gel.
It is used for the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with viruses. Thanks to the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms, patients can use significantly less hormonal drugs and antibiotics, which makes them feel better and has a positive effect on their health.
The effect on the body is complex:
- antiviral – for the treatment of herpes, influenza, hepatitis, among others;
- restoration of the interferon synthesis system;
- antibacterial – treatment of mixed infections;
- stimulation of systems that synthesize antibodies;
- strengthening the immune system.
The drug stabilizes the membranes of body cells, promotes tissue regeneration, and has anti-inflammatory and powerful antioxidant effects. This contributes not only to cure from infectious pathologies, but to relatively rapid recovery.
The ointment or gel can only be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature in the range of 2-8°C. The place should be moderately damp and dark. Access for children is prohibited. The drug can be used within the expiration date, which is 2 years from the date of production.
Viferon Ointment: effect of the drug
Like suppositories, the ointment is an antiviral agent, which, in addition to blocking the proliferation of viruses, helps restore local immunity. The difference is that it is applied locally, externally. The composition of the drug, as can be read in the annotation for Viferon ointment, includes recombinant human interferon alpha-2b, tocopherol acetate, anhydrous lanolin, petroleum jelly, purified water and peach oil. How does the drug affect the body? When applied to the skin and mucous membranes, the components of the drug easily penetrate inside, activate local immunity and prevent the multiplication of the virus. This allows you to quickly cope with the disease. This is important, especially in the case of a herpetic infection, which also causes great cosmetic inconvenience to the patient.
Contraindications and side effects
The ointment and gel have no contraindications, with the exception of individual intolerance. They should not be used by patients who may experience rashes, redness or other types of allergies. If such consequences occur, therapy should be stopped immediately.
It is necessary to consult a doctor for further advice. Symptomatic treatment is not indicated, since all symptoms disappear within 2-3 days. The standard course duration is 7 days. After this, you can take a break and continue therapy only in consultation with your doctor.
The drug can be used in any form, starting from the 14th week of pregnancy. During breastfeeding, Viferon can be used without restrictions. The ointment and gel are safe for health if the instructions are followed. Cases of overdose have not been registered to date.
conclusions
The drug Viferon Ointment is simple and easy to use, has a comfortable shelf life, allowing it to be used for a long period. Recommended in the complex therapy of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza, as well as herpes types 1 and 2. “Viferon ointment,” as the drug is often called by mothers, can be used for children (from 1 year), as well as for adults, including pregnant and nursing mothers.
Author of the article
Gerasimenko Igor Olegovich, General Practitioner
*A.A. Khaldin, O.V. Chistik, D.V. Ignatiev “Herpes simplex: etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment”, Practical Medicine No. 5, 2009
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Ointment "Viferon": instructions for use
The ointment is used only for external use. The instructions are simple - apply to the affected area of the skin or mucous membrane and gently smear with your fingers. The quantity should be small, the number of doses should be 3-4 per day. Therapy lasts 5-7 days; if necessary, the course can be continued, but only after consulting a doctor.
The gel is used for the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections and stenosing laryngitis in childhood. For these purposes, the composition is applied to a tampon and then transferred to the child’s tonsils 2 times a day. The course lasts no more than a week and can be repeated twice a year.
The gel can also be used to prevent ARVI in children during the first 2 years of life. In this case, the composition is also applied to a tampon, and then the mucous membrane of each nasal passage is coated (blow your nose and dry it first). The procedure is repeated up to 3 times a day for a week.
The gel is also used to treat herpes in adult patients. It is best to use it during periods of low flow, when rashes appear quite rarely. The composition is applied only to the affected areas, and the number of doses is from 5 to 7 in one day. Therapy is continued for 3-5 days, after which they take a break and, if necessary, repeat the cycle.
Viferon Ointment: indications for use
According to the instructions, the drug is recommended for use in the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza, as well as herpetic eruptions of various locations. For the treatment of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI), the drug is applied to the nasal mucosa three to four times a day. As a rule, in case of a viral infection, the ointment is prescribed in complex therapy with antipyretic and symptomatic medications (for cough, runny nose, sore throat, etc.), as well as with antiviral suppositories. It is better to use the remedy from the first hours of illness, that is, it is better to start treatment with Viferon ointment for a runny nose, as a manifestation of ARVI, immediately, the course is five days. For herpetic infections of various localizations, especially when they are recurrent, the drug is best used at the first signs of a rash (itching, burning, redness). Does Viferon ointment help? According to research results, the use of this drug helps to get rid of the manifestations of the virus on the third or fourth day*.
Indications and instructions for use of other forms of the drug
Candles can be used to treat the following pathologies:
- infectious and inflammatory processes in children, including infants with a gestation period of 34 weeks or more;
- viral hepatitis of the following types: B, C and D;
- viral hepatitis, which occurs chronically, as well as with complications, including cirrhosis;
- influenza, ARVI (both in adults and in children and infancy).
Suppositories are used rectally, and they are administered 1 piece at a time. 2 times a day. The course lasts 5-10 days, after which a break is taken and, if necessary, the therapy is repeated. To prevent relapses, treatment is carried out at intervals of 4 weeks. In this case, the minimum time between administrations of 2 suppositories in all cases should be 12 hours.
Candles are also given to children, including newborns, as well as premature babies. Main indications:
- ARVI;
- infection of enteroviral origin;
- pneumonia;
- meningitis;
- infections of herpetic origin;
- infections associated with cytomegalovirus;
- sepsis.
The dosage calculation, frequency of administration, as well as the total duration of therapy are determined by the doctor. Typically, newborns up to 6 months old are prescribed an amount of 300-500 thousand IU every day. And children between 6-12 months are given exactly 500 thousand IU.
The total daily amount is divided by 2 times and the suppositories are administered rectally. To do this, the child is placed on his side and both legs are tucked towards his stomach. Before starting the injection, you can coat the rectal area with Vaseline or baby cream. During insertion, the child’s body is fixed with hands and the buttocks are immediately clamped so that the suppository enters completely.
The effectiveness of Viferon ointment in the rehabilitation of frequently ill children
The interferon system carries out a multifunctional effect in the body in three main directions: antiviral, antiproliferative, immunomodulatory. Imperfect functioning of the interferon system can cause increased sensitivity of children to infectious diseases and aggravate the severity of their course.
Studies devoted to the formation of the interferon system in ontogenesis have revealed some age-related features [3]. In newborn children, compared with adult donors, there is a significant decrease in the ability of leukocytes to produce α-interferon (α-IFN), as well as γ-interferon (γ-IFN). Moreover, the lower the gestational age of the newborn child, the more these indicators are reduced [1]. In premature newborns, the concentration of endogenous interferon in the blood serum exceeds that in full-term infants, young children and adults. Circulating interferon is currently considered as “early” interferon, which has a physiological orientation, reflecting the state of the interferon system of the developing fetus [3].
The action of “early” interferon is aimed not so much at protection, but at the development and differentiation of fetal cells. A relationship has been established between a decrease in the level of production of “early” interferon and deviations from the norm of fetal development in pregnant women [5]. It has also been revealed that the pathology of the ante- and perinatal periods of ontogenesis, leading to the development of perinatal hypoxia, fetaplacental insufficiency, provokes the development of immunological disorders in the mother-placenta-fetus system and deviations in the development of the immune system in postnatal ontogenesis [6].
The objective of this study was to develop methods for the rehabilitation of frequently ill children using Viferon ointment and analyze their effectiveness.
A child was considered to be frequently ill if he suffered 4 or more acute respiratory diseases during the year or if his resistance index (RI) was 0.33 or higher [4]:
RI = (number of acute respiratory diseases suffered by the child)/ (number of months of observation)
The work used clinical methods, the study of interferon status (serum, α-IFN, γ-IFN), according to the method proposed by S. S. Grigoryan and co-authors (1988), and the study of the cellular component of immunity. For isolated subpopulations of T-lymphocytes, the amount of acid phosphatase was determined by the azo-coupling method, according to Goldberg and Barka (1978).
Interferon preparations are characterized by a combination of antiviral, antibacterial and immunomodulatory activity. In recent years, new generation interferon preparations (reaferon, realdiron, as well as foreign ones - intron A, roferon A) have been obtained using genetic engineering methods, which eliminates the use of donor blood as a raw material. Among them, we should highlight the domestic complex drug Viferon, which includes human recombinant interferon α-2b, membrane-stabilizing components (vitamins E and C) and a base. The drug is available in two dosage forms: ointment and rectal suppositories. The complex composition of Viferon causes a number of new effects: in combination with membrane-stabilizing components, the antiviral activity of recombinant interferon α-2b increases 10–14 times, its immunomodulatory effect on T- and B-lymphocytes is enhanced, the content of immunoglobulin E is normalized, phagocytosis is enhanced, and there are no side effects symptoms that occur with parenteral administration of interferon drugs (flu-like phenomena, severe headaches, arthralgia, hallucinations, hair loss, diarrhea). It has been established that with long-term use of Viferon for 2 years, antibodies are not formed that neutralize the antiviral activity of recombinant interferon α-2b.
The listed properties of Viferon, in particular interferon- and immunocorrective effects, served as the basis for its use in the rehabilitation of this category of children. Viferon ointment, containing 40 thousand IU of interferon per 1 g, was used as a dosage form.
The drug was used in three main areas: during courses of immuno- and interferon rehabilitation; during the period of adaptation to a preschool institution; for preventive purposes during the period of rising incidence of ARVI.
Viferon ointment was administered intranasally according to the method we developed (RF patent No. 2214272 dated October 20, 2003) 2 times a day in a daily dose of 1 g. The drug was used daily for the first 2 weeks, and 3 times a week for the next 2–4 weeks. Frequently ill children attending preschool institutions and raised in an orphanage were under observation. The age of the children ranged from 3 months to 5.5 years. Of these, more than half (61.6%) were young children. All frequently ill children had deviations in the ante- and perinatal periods of development. 73 children (main group) received Viferon ointment. The comparison group, in which children did not receive the drug, as well as other immunomodulatory drugs, consisted of 34 children of the same age who had an unfavorable course of early ontogenesis and suffered from frequent respiratory infections. In both groups, general health activities were carried out (massage, vitamin therapy, physical therapy, etc.).
Analysis of the clinical effectiveness of the ointment form of Viferon shows its pronounced effect on the incidence of children during the period of adaptation to a preschool institution. Among the children who received Viferonorehabilitation, 41% did not get sick in the first 3.5 months after entering a preschool institution. In the comparison group, all observed children recovered from the disease during this period. The number of days missed due to illness in the group receiving Viferon was 2.2 times lower than in the comparison group (p < 0.01), and the number of episodes of acute respiratory infections suffered by one child was almost 2 times lower (p < 0 ,01).
Along with the positive clinical effect, there was an improvement in immunological parameters. This was expressed in a significant (p < 0.01) increase in the helper subpopulation of lymphocytes (38.2 ± 0.45% and 41.73 ± 0.67%, respectively), in a decrease in T-suppressors (22.98 ± 0.52% and 21.27 ± 0.62%, respectively, p < 0.05), in the normalization of the immunoregulatory index (1.68 ± 0.06 and 1.96 ± 0.09, respectively, p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the dynamics of immunological parameters in children of the comparison group during the same time (p > 0.05). Subsequent observations over the course of a year showed that the effect of Viferonorehabilitation carried out during the period of adaptation to a preschool institution on the incidence of children's illnesses gradually decreases over time. Thus, if the incidence of children in the first 3.5 months after taking the drug was 2 times lower than in the comparison group, then in 6 months it was 1.5 times lower, and in 8 months it was 1.4 times lower than in the group of children who did not receive the drug. This necessitates repeated courses of viferonorehabilitation for frequently ill children admitted to preschool institutions every 3–4 months until a lasting clinical effect is achieved.
Viferonorehabilitation, along with a decrease in morbidity, facilitated adaptation to a preschool institution and by reducing emotional and behavioral disorders. This is due to the longer stay of children in a group and the possibility of carrying out psychological and pedagogical influences.
Viferon ointment was also included in the rehabilitation complex for frequently ill children, which is usually carried out 2 times a year. Clinical observations conducted over the course of a year showed that Viferon rehabilitation leads to a reduction in the incidence of respiratory infections by 2.0–1.7–2.1 times. The most pronounced effect is observed in young children.
The use of Viferon ointment contributes to a significant (p < 0.01) increase in the synthesis of γ-interferon in frequently ill children, both in the first year of life and in older age. There is a significant decrease in circulating “early” interferon in children of the second and third year of life. If before Viferonorehabilitation it was detected in 66.67% of those examined, then after its completion - in 28.27% of frequently ill children (p < 0.05). In frequently ill children in the first year of life, there is no significant decrease in circulating “early” interferon (p > 0.05). After a course of Viferon rehabilitation, its circulation remains in the vast majority (85.71%) of children, which indicates the need for longer use of the drug in children of this age. A significant increase in the ability to produce α-IFN was not detected in all children examined without exception (p > 0.05). It can be argued that, in parallel with the increase in the synthesis of γ-IFN after a course of viferon rehabilitation, frequently ill children experience significant positive dynamics in cellular immunity indicators; the helper subpopulation of T-lymphocytes increases (p < 0.01), the number of T-suppressors decreases (p < 0.01), and the immunoregulatory index increases (p < 0.01). There were no significant changes in the studied indicators of cellular immunity in the group of children who did not receive Viferon during this time (p > 0.05).
Thus, the use of Viferon ointment for the purpose of rehabilitation of disorders in the interferon system in frequently ill children with a history of dysontogenetic abnormalities has a significant interferon-correcting and immunomodulatory effect. It manifests itself in the stimulation of γ-interferonogenesis, a decrease in circulating “early” interferon, an increase in the helper activity of the cellular immune system, and a normalization of the ratio of T-lymphocyte subpopulations. Clinically, this process correlates with a decrease in the number of episodes of respiratory infections, an increase in the resistance of children, and an alleviation of the adaptation syndrome during the period of adaptation to a preschool institution.
The course of viferon prophylaxis was carried out in the spring season, taking into account the seasonal rhythms of interferonogenesis identified and described by us earlier. To compare the data obtained, the incidence of respiratory infections was analyzed 2 months before viferon prophylaxis and within 2 months after its completion. A study of the clinical effectiveness of the drug showed its difference in children of early and preschool age. There were no cases of illness in young children during viferon prophylaxis. Over the next 2 months, compared with the same time period preceding the prevention, there was a decrease in the incidence of ARVI by 4 times in the number of cases and by 6.6 times in the number of days missed by one child (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the incidence of preschool children before and after viferon prophylaxis.
The more pronounced effectiveness of viferon prophylaxis in children of the first 3 years of life may be due to the optimally selected dose of the drug and its administration schedule, the plastic abilities of the body of young children, and in particular their immune system, which determine a high immunomodulatory effect.
A study of the interferon status of children before and after viferon prophylaxis shows its positive effect on the state of the interferon system. The examined children showed a significant increase in the production of γ-IFN (p < 0.01) and a decrease in circulating “early” interferon (p < 0.01). The number of children in whom “early” interferon is detected decreases by 2.7 times. In the comparison group, studies conducted at the same time did not reveal significant changes in interferon status (p > 0.05).
It should be noted that there were no side effects, including allergic reactions, negative changes in laboratory parameters, when using Viferon ointment in all observed children.
Thus, the use of the ointment form of the domestic drug Viferon in frequently ill children has an interferon-corrective and immunomodulatory effect, promoting an increase in the production of γ-IFN, the helper subpopulation of T-lymphocytes, a decrease in circulating “early” interferon, normalization of the immunoregulatory index, a decrease in the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections, and easier adaptation to period of adaptation to new microsocial conditions.
For questions regarding literature, please contact the editor.
Z. S. Makarova , Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor V. A. Doskin , Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor V. V. Malinovskaya , Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor RMAPO, State Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after. N. F. Gamaleyi RAMS, Moscow
