Review article

Antiviral Drugs and Influenza Treatment

Ilija Kuzman
Ivan Puljiz

Abstract

The treatment of influenza is primarily symptomatic, while more serious disease forms and hospitalized patients, as well as patients with risk factors for complications, should be preferably treated with specific antiviral medicines. Old antiviral medicines (M2 ion channel blockers), i.e. amantadine and rimandatine, have been used very rarely due to their toxicity, viral resistance and lack of efficiency against influenza B virus. New antiviral medicines block the activity of viral neuraminidases (neuraminidase inhibitors) and thus prevent the virus from exiting the infected cell. Neuraminidase inhibitors are efficient against all influenza A and B viruses. Currently two neuraminidase inhibitors, zanamivir and oseltamivir, are used. Paramivir has completed the final phase of clinical trials, while laninamivir is in non-clinical trials. Neuraminidase inhibitors in seasonal and pandemic influenza reduce the duration of the disease and alleviate its symptoms, and they also reduce the number and severity of complications, the consumption of antibiotics and the need for hospitalization. The treatment should start at the onset of the disease, i.e. within the first 48 hours.

Keywords

influenza; neuraminidase inhibitors; oseltamivir; zanamivir

Hrčak ID:

77360

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/77360

Publication date:

3.1.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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