Individually orientated choice of mucolytic drug for coughing in a child with acute respiratory viral infections

Abstract

Coughing in acute respiratory infections, regardless of the level of infection: upper or lower respiratory tract is a frequent clinical symptom in childhood. The analysis of the modern literature and the data of the authors’ own researches testify to the fact that the prescription of mucoactive therapy in a complex of therapeutic measures (etiotropic, basic therapy, bronchopulmonary drainage, etc.).) should be differentiated and determined not only by the nature and severity of coughs, separated sputum, but also by individual characteristics of the patient, the severity and course of bronchopulmonary pathology, the age of the child, the presence of adverse environmental factors (in particular, passive smoking), the level of compliance with the patient. The use of combined medications simultaneously influencing various pathogenetic mechanisms of inflammation and coughing becomes a promising direction of mucoactive therapy. One of them is Eucabal® syrup containing liquid extracts of thyme and plantain. Due to the synergy of its components, Eucabal® syrup has an expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect, which is important in the initial period of acute respiratory viral infections (tracheitis, bronchitis tracheobronchitis), especially in dry, painful cough with hard-to-remove sputum. In case of acute respiratory viral infections accompanied by a wet cough with a viscous, difficult to separate sputum, mucolytic agents are shown first of all. One of the modern widely used drugs of this group is acetylcysteine (ESPA-NAC®) in a convenient dosage form.