The use of antiviral drugs in children

J Chemother. 2021 Oct 11:1-14. doi: 10.1080/1120009X.2021.1979746. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTViral infections are particularly common among children. They often have a mild course, are self-limiting and do not need any specific treatment. However, in some cases, the disease can be severe and lead to permanent disabilities. A variety of antiviral drugs are available for the treatments of certain infectious agents: for instance, acyclovir is used to treat herpes simplex virus encephalitis. Recommendations for flu treatment may change according to the current epidemiological surveillance data, on the basis of which antiviral sensibility can be forecast: recommended drugs for the 2020-21 flu season are oseltamivir, zanamivir, peramivir and baloxavir. Some drugs are used to treat congenital infections, such as valganciclovir and ganciclovir in congenital cytomegalovirus infection. Antiretroviral prophylaxis in newborns from HIV-1 infected mothers must be initiated as soon as possible, with one or more drugs according to therapeutic regimens based on the baby's risk category. According to the most recent guidelines, antiretroviral therapy must be started at diagnosis. Several antiretroviral drugs are available today and approved for use in children, so several combinations can be made. However, out of the 29 antiretroviral drugs approved for adults, only 38% (11/29) are approved for children under the age of two and about 60% (18/29) for children under the age of twelve. Treatm...
Source: Journal of Chemotherapy - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research