The danger of using antiviral drugs for the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections has been identified

Reputable doctors never cease to repeat that these remedies are completely ineffective

The news that a 14-year-old schoolgirl from the capital was taken away in an ambulance with poisoning from antiviral pills spread across the media. According to surveys, up to 80% of Russians practice self-medication, and almost every family has antiviral drugs in the medicine cabinet. And this despite the fact that experts never tire of repeating: there are no drugs with proven effectiveness that act on respiratory viruses in the world. However, in every pharmacy you can find dozens of types of antiviral drugs, and we sell them without prescriptions. Read about how their use can end, other than poisoning, in our material.

As the child’s parents told the media, the girls always took antiviral pills when they started to feel like they were getting sick – to prevent ARVI. And they didn’t see anything special about it. However, this time something went wrong.

It is not reported what pills and how many the girl took. However, doctors hospitalized her with a diagnosis of acute poisoning with antiviral drugs. Her stomach was pumped out in time – and now the child is in no danger.

…There is probably not a single country in the world where ineffective antiviral drugs would be as popular as in Russia. Most of these medicines sold in the country are domestically produced. Moreover: many of them are even included in the list of vital and necessary ones, although authoritative doctors never cease to repeat that they are completely ineffective. In addition, almost all Russian antiviral drugs are included in the list of the Cochrane Society, which collects dummy drugs from all over the world.

However, just saying that antiviral drugs are simply ineffective (at least they have no effect on the virus at all) is not enough. Some of them can have very unpleasant health consequences. For example, as one doctor who wished to remain anonymous told MK, there is a Russian drug that is today sold as an antiviral: “However, it was developed as an antitumor drug, but did not show effectiveness in clinical studies. This drug, in theory, promotes the growth of white blood cells . And if a person does not have problems with them, this medicine could potentially be harmful to him. And if a person has atypical cells that can be potentially carcinogenic, the drug can stimulate their growth and reproduction. But for some reason it was registered as an antiviral – Apparently, in order to somehow justify the funds spent on research. But we do not know at all how this medicine can act on the cells of the immune system, what changes it causes in them and how this can end for the patient. There is another very popular one in our country an antiviral drug, also included in the Russian list of vital and necessary drugs.The herbal component included in it can have a negative effect on male reproductive function. If we talk about the poisoning of a girl in Moscow, then I have little information to comment professionally on this situation. Perhaps the child took a lot of pills, perhaps he took something else. But what’s frightening in this situation is that parents consider it normal for a 14-year-old girl to do “prevention” on her own.”

Meanwhile, St. Petersburg ambulance doctor Lev Avebrakh recalls what is written in the clinical recommendations for the treatment of uncomplicated ARVI in children, which were compiled by the Union of Pediatricians of Russia together with the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. Here’s what experts recommend: warm, plenty of drink; nasal rinsing; if necessary, wipe with cool water (not alcohol! not vodka! and not vinegar!); paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce fever; vasoconstrictor nasal drops, lozenges and lozenges with antiseptic; for influenza (confirmed) in the first 24-48 hours, oseltamivir (from 1 year) and zanamivir (from 5 years). Actually, that’s all.

It is especially noted: it is inappropriate (!) to prescribe antiviral drugs with an immunotropic effect. In addition, it is not recommended to use acetylsalicylic acid, nimesulide, and analgin. Antitussives, expectorants, mucolytics, including herbal remedies, are not recommended due to ineffectiveness. Steam and aerosol inhalations are not recommended for use, as they have not shown any effect in randomized studies, and are also not recommended by WHO for the treatment of ARVI. It is not recommended for all children with ARVI to be prescribed ascorbic acid (vitamin C), as this does not affect the course of the disease. The results of studies on the effectiveness of the use of immunomodulators for respiratory infections, as a rule, show an unreliable effect.

“ARVI is the most common reason for the use of various medications and procedures, most often unnecessary, with unproven effects, and often causing side effects. There are currently no clear data confirming the antiviral effectiveness and safety of the use of other drugs in children, including immunomodulators with a stimulating effect, which are widely used in the Russian Federation,” emphasizes Averbakh.

And he concludes: “Do not self-medicate and do not take any “folk” remedies. Before you start taking any medications on your own, consult a doctor. There are contraindications. Take care of children: they are easy to make, but expensive and long to raise.”

By the way, all of the above also applies to adults.