Antiviral drugs for influenza

Antiviral drugs are needed in order not to allow the virus( for example, the flu) to spread in the human body, that is, they help the body cope with various viruses. There are 2 groups of antiviral drugs against influenza. The first group of antiviral drugs actively fighting the virus - the drug changes the structure of viral proteins, it does not allow the influenza virus to enter the cells, which means that they will not be able to reproduce. The second group - reduces the susceptibility of cells to viruses, which at times increases the body's defenses, but the virus itself does not affect the drug.

Neuraminidase inhibitors

An enzyme like neuraminidase is found in the envelope of some viruses and the influenza virus is no exception. This enzyme helps the virus particles to escape from the infected cell, and it also speeds up the entry of the virus into the remaining cells, thereby spreading the infection.

Inhibitors are substances that suppress the activity of neuraminidase of influenza viruses, so that the virus enters the cell is limited. At the end of the cycle of reproduction, the exit from the cell of a new virus particle is also limited, so that new cells are not affected by the virus.

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Neuraminidase inhibitors are used to treat all types of influenza virus( a variety of strains).Currently, zanamivir and oseltamivir are considered the most common inhibitors of neuraminidase.

M2 inhibitors

These substances block the ionic M2 channels of the influenza virus, so that the virus can no longer penetrate the cells of the body. Without getting into the cells of the body, the virus particle can not develop( the reproductive cycle occurs only inside the host cell), which means that the process of further infection stops. M2 inhibitors are used to fight the influenza A virus, since only it has an M2-channel. Amantadine and Rimantadine are the most popular and common M2 inhibitors.

The second group of antiviral medicines

Immunoglobulins

These are special immune molecules that neutralize a number of infectious agents in our body. These molecules have a strict specialization. In our body for each type of bacteria and viruses a certain "grade" of immunoglobulin is produced, among them there are immunoglobulins that fight against the influenza virus.

All immunoglobulin products are made from donors blood, which are immunized with live influenza-like diva vaccine. The patient is administered immunoglobulin in order that the "native" immunoglobulin copes with the infection more quickly. As a result of the use of immunoglobulin, the general condition of the patient is markedly improved, as the severity of toxic reactions is reduced.

Immunoglobulin is especially indicated for people with severe influenza. With mild or moderate flu, immunoglobulins are not prescribed.

Interferon Inductors

Interferons are a series of proteins that are produced by the cells of the body after a virus has entered the body. After infection of the cell with a virus, it begins to vigorously multiply, which the host cell begins to produce interferon, which is capable of retaining the synthesis of viral proteins. Causing changes in the cell, interferon does not allow the virus to multiply, thereby undermining its viability. From the infected cell, interferon is spreading to neighboring cells, making them insensitive to the effect of the virus - a stable antiviral immune system is modulated.

Interferon inducers are synthetic or natural components that stimulate the production of your own interferon in the body.

Amixin, Cycloferon, Kagocel are the most common among such preparations, moreover the latter is unique in its own way. Kagocel effectively copes with the virus even on the 4th day after the appearance of the first symptoms of influenza. Other inducers of interferon( however, like the rest of the antiviral drugs) are prescribed only in the early stages of the disease( to be precise, only if the first symptoms began to appear at most 2 days ago).