The effect of topical drugs on the course of ARVI in children in modern conditions

Ruzhentsova T.A., Garbuzov A.A., Meshkova N.A., Popova R.V., Slyusar O.I., Zatevalov A.M.

Gabrichevsky Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
Moscow Medical University "Reaviz", Russia
Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Russia
Mytischi City Clinical Hospital, Mytischi, Russia

The purpose of the study. To evaluate the results of using a drug based on benzidamine hydrochloride in the treatment regimens of acute respiratory viral infections in children today.
Materials and methods. The study included 875 children aged 3 to 18 years with acute respiratory viral infections, which occurred in mild or moderate forms, and were treated on an outpatient basis. During the non-interventional study, a retrospective analysis of information from medical records was made. The main group included 318 children who were recommended therapy with a drug based on benzidamine hydrochloride, the comparison group included 557 children who received other topical drugs.
Results. Recovery was statistically significantly earlier in the group receiving benzidamine hydrochloride: from the moment of initiation of therapy, the disease period in the main group was 6.78±1.72 days, while in the comparison group it was 1.34 days longer – 8.12±3.32. It was found that benzidamine hydrochloride significantly reduces the period of tickling and sore throat from 5.10±1.38 in the comparison group to 4.08±1.41 in the main group, hyperemia of the posterior pharyngeal wall – from 8.11±3.27 in the comparison group to 6.68±1.6 days in the main group, hyperemia of the tonsils – from 7.85±1.84 in the comparison group to 6.86±1.77 in the main group. Relief of dry cough was recorded in the group receiving benzidamine hydrochloride at 4.23±1.66 days, and in the group where other drugs were used – at 4.64±1.85 days. According to other indicators, no significant differences were found between the compared groups.
Conclusion. The administration of a drug based on benzidamine hydrochloride as part of complex therapy statistically significantly, on average, reduces the total duration of acute respiratory viral infections in children from 3 years old by 1.34 days, reduces the period of tickling and sore throat by 1.08 days; by 1.43 days – visual manifestations of pharyngitis, by 1.0 days – tonsillitis; reduces the duration of dry cough.