Effect of various treatment regimens on the course of viral respiratory infections in children
Authors:   Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russian Federation, Nikolaeva S.V. , Khlypovka Yu.N. ,   Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russian Federation, Gorelov A.V. ,   Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russian Federation,   A.I. Yevdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: December 2023

Background: acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified localization (acute respiratory infections, ARIs) are still the leading cause of infections in children and an urgent healthcare issue in general. Aim: to assess the effect of various treatment regimens on the course of single- and complex-origin acute respiratory viral infections (ARVIs) and identify risk factors. Patients and Methods: risk factors for ARVI course based on disease etiology (single origin or several viruses) and treatment were analyzed in 506 children. Single-origin (respiratory virus) infection was reported in 384 children, and complex-origin (rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, metapneumovirus, bocavirus, seasonal coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus) infection was reported in 122 children. Treatment was prescribed based on accepted standards. Results: in outpatient settings, children most commonly received two or more or one drug (usually antipyretics). Antibacterial therapy was prescribed to 26.2% of children with complex-origin ARIs and 26.6% of children with single-origin ARIs. In 5%, the antibacterial drug was switched. Only every tenth child received antivirals in the outpatient setting. In the inpatient setting, antibacterial therapy for ARI was prescribed to most (76.1%) children. The risk of complications was higher in children who received antibiotics (regardless of the number of etiological agents that caused ARVI) than in children who did not receive antibiotics. The most significant factor for preventing complications was the prescription of antivirals as a part of complex therapy. Meanwhile, even if only symptomatic drugs were prescribed, the risk of complications was less than that with antibiotics. Conclusions: inadequate use of antibiotics for ARI increases the rate of ENT and lower respiratory tract complications and prolongs the recovery time. Prescription of antivirals for ARVI avoids these negative effects. It is crucial to fundamentally change the approach to increase the level of knowledge of doctors on the use of antibiotics. KEYWORDS: acute respiratory infections, children, cycloferon, antibacterial therapy, acute respiratory viral infections, complications. FOR CITATION: Nikolaeva S.V., Khlypovka Yu.N., Gorelov A.V. Effect of various treatment regimens on the course of viral respiratory infections in children. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2023;7(11):713–717 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2023-7-11-1.