Simple Answers to Complex Questions about Mucolytics for Children

Abstract

The article discusses the use of N-acetylcysteine in pediatric practice and examines various clinical effects of acetylcysteine, including in acute respiratory infections in children, and peculiarities of its application. The causes for the phenomenon of «lung bogging» in the course of treatment with mucoactive means are analyzed separately and the measures for its prevention are proposed. The article contains the results of multicenter studies and data of systematic reviews that show high therapeutic efficacy and safety of acetylcysteine in treating both acute and chronic infections of the upper and lower respiratory tracts. The drug can modify the rheological properties of the tracheobronchial secretion reducing its viscosity and accelerating the discharge processes from the bronchial tract, which results in a more rapid recovery of the patient.

Keywords

• children
• acetylcysteine
• acute respiratory infections
• cough
• phlegm
• mucolytics