As a rule, in the autumn-winter period, a peak of catarrhal diseases is noted in the children's collective. The modern pharmaceutical market represents a wide range of medicines that successfully fight against viral diseases. One of the antiviral agents for children is remantadine, which is successfully used not only to treat type A influenza viruses, but also herpes and tick-borne encephalitis.
Remantadine for children: indications for children
The most effective use of remantadine at the very beginning of the disease, because in the first two days of the disease, it is able to prevent the multiplication of harmful bacteria and mobilize the body's defenses.
The medicinal product is successfully used not only to treat already begun influenza, but also for the prevention of acute respiratory diseases during the period of exacerbation.
How to take remantadine for children?
The full course of treatment for children of any age category is five days. It is available in the form of syrup for children from one year and in the form of tablets for older children. Regardless of the form of release, remantadine is used inside after eating, with plenty of water.
Remantadine syrup (orvir) for children
Syrup is given to children older than one year in the following dosage:
- children 1-3 years: on the first day, two teaspoons (20 mg) three times a day, 2 and 3 days two teaspoons twice a day, 4 days - two teaspoons 1 time a day;
- children 3-7 years: on the first day three teaspoons (30 mg) 3 times a day, 2 and 3 days - 3 teaspoons twice a day, 4 day - three teaspoons 1 time a day.
Children up to one year of age are not recommended to use this drug in connection with the imperfection of kidney function. As a result, there may be an accumulation of dangerous metabolites in the baby's body, which have a detrimental effect on the work of the kidneys.
Pills for remantadine for children
Remantadine in tablets is allowed to give to children older than seven years. If the doctor prescribed rimantadine, the dosage for children is as follows:
- children 7-10 years: 1 tablet twice a day;
- children 11-14 years: 1 tablet 3 times a day.
After 7 years of age, you can use rimantadine as a prophylactic against the flu at a dosage of 1 tablet per day for two weeks.
Remantadine: contraindications and side effects
Like any remedy, remantadine has contraindications to the use for the treatment of children:
- hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
- children's age of one year;
- abnormal liver and kidney function in history;
- increased thyroid function (hyperthyroidism);
- epilepsy.
As side effects, the child can have:
- nausea;
- in some cases, vomiting;
- drowsiness;
- dizziness;
- headache;
- dry mouth;
- pain in the abdomen;
- allergic reactions: itching of the skin, urticaria;
- a decrease in the concentration of attention that may have an impact on the educational process of the child in school;
- in especially severe cases, a tremor of extremities is noted.
In the analysis of the blood of the child with the use of remantadine, a slight increase in bilirubin is noted.
In case of adverse reactions, the dosage should be reduced or discontinued. After this, it is necessary to consult a doctor for advice on the selection of the optimal antiviral
If the doctor prescribes rimantadine, the parents ask whether it is possible for children to give it as a preventive medicine, whether it will be an invasion into the body, when the immunity of the child tries to fight the virus on its own. Any medicine for disease prevention interferes with the child's immune system. However, children under three years of age still have imperfect immunity, as a result of which the body is more open to the influence of all kinds of viruses. Therefore, children under the age of three are often sick. The use of remantadine as a preventive therapeutic agent allows to reduce the risk of the child's chances of catching cold and flu during the exacerbation of the virus, since it helps to strengthen immunity.