Prevention and treatment of influenza and ARVI in pregnant women

Abstract

Influenza and acute respiratory viral infections continue to occupy leading positions in the structure of infectious pathology. The high risk categories of the disease include pregnant women who, due to hormonal and physiological changes occurring in the body during the period of carrying a child, are at risk of developing severe/complicated course of respiratory infections, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy. A small number of medications that are effective and allowed to be used in women during gestation make it relevant to develop and implement new schemes for the prevention and treatment of acute respiratory viral infections in pregnant women. To date, one of the promising directions is the use of drugs that have antiviral properties and activate the functioning of the immune system, which would prevent the development of complications and prevent reproductive losses. The results of scientific studies devoted to evaluating the effectiveness and safety of the use of recombinant interferon α-2b with antioxidants for the prevention and treatment of influenza and acute respiratory infections in pregnant women are presented. The preventive use of recombinant interferon α-2b with antioxidants preparations (rectal suppositories or gel for external and topical use) in the form of mono- or combined systemic and topical forms makes it possible to achieve a significant reduction in the incidence of influenza and other acute respiratory infections, including COVID-19, reduce the frequency of pregnancy complications, increase the number of favorable perinatal outcomes and the birth of healthy children. The use of recombinant interferon α-2b drugs as a therapeutic agent in pregnant women in case of respiratory infections can reduce the overall duration of the disease and the period of intoxication, reduce the frequency of severe forms and complications of respiratory infections, significantly reduce the risk of premature birth and the birth of children with low body weight, reduce the frequency of exacerbations of chronic, including extragenital diseases of pregnant women. The conclusion is made about the expediency of including recombinant interferon α-2b with antioxidants drugs in the complex of preventive measures and basic therapy of influenza and acute respiratory infections in pregnant women.

Keywords

• acute respiratory infections
• pregnant
• recombinant interferon α-2b