In the treatment of diseases of the nasopharynx, topical agents in the form of drops or sprays are very popular, the ingredients of which directly affect the affected areas of the upper respiratory tract. Among them, children are often prescribed Polydex with phenylephrine and Isofra.
To determine which of the medicines is best for a sick baby, it is worth figuring out what is the difference between these medicines, when they are in demand and how they are used in childhood.
How are drugs similar?
The drugs are similar as follows:
- Both Isofra and Polydexa with phenylephrine are from the same manufacturer, the French company Laboratoires Bouchara-Recordati. The medicines of this pharmaceutical factory are called high-quality, since they have long established themselves (the company is part of the European Recordati group, founded in 1926 and also produces such popular medicines as Hexasprey, Otofa, Hexaliz and Terzhinan).
- Both medicines come in the form of a spray used intranasally. After pressing the nozzle, the solution evenly falls on the mucous membrane of the nasal passages and acts locally. The components of Isofra and Polydexa are absorbed into the bloodstream in miniscule amounts, which do not cause any harmful effects.
- The packaging of the preparations is similar and is a plastic opaque bottle equipped with a spray bottle and a screw cap. One bottle contains 15 ml of solution.
- The composition of both medicines contains an antibiotic from the aminoglycoside group. In Isofra, it is framycetin sulfate at a dose of 8000 IU, and in Polydex, neomycin sulfate at a dose of 6500 IU. Such compounds make the spray effective against E. coli, Shigella, Klebsiella and some other microbes. However, both drugs do not work on streptococci.
- Neither Isofra nor Polydex is advised to inject children with a viral infection, since such drugs are used only for bacterial rhinitis, sinusitis or rhinopharyngitis.
- A possible side effect of both drugs is called an allergic reaction. If allergy symptoms occur after the first application or injection of several doses, the spray should be discontinued and the child should be examined by a doctor.
- Since both Isofra and Polidexa act only at the site of treatment, an overdose of such drugs does not occur. If the child accidentally swallowed the solution, it is recommended to rinse his stomach and give him some kind of sorbent.
- Both medicines are sold by prescription in pharmacies, so you should show your baby to the doctor before purchasing any of these sprays. As for the cost of drugs, it is about the same and amounts to about 300-350 rubles per bottle.
- Keep at home and Polydexa in a spray, and Isofra is advised at a temperature not higher than +25 degrees. Both drugs have a shelf life of 3 years. If the marking has wiped off or the date marked on the package has passed, splashing into the nose of any of these products is unacceptable.
- Both drugs receive a lot of positive feedback from parents and doctors, since they have an effective effect on bacteria, practically do not cause side effects, are allowed in childhood and are quite convenient to use.
- Among the shortcomings of both Isofra and Polydex, many call the high cost and high injection force.
Differences
Although Isofra and Polydexa have many similar characteristics, there are also many differences between them. First, their composition is significantly different. Compared to Isofra, which contains only one ingredient, Polydexa is a multicomponent preparation and contains 4 active compounds at once.
This medicine contains not only an aminoglycoside antibiotic, but also an antibiotic from the group of cyclic polypeptides (polymyxin B), as well as an anti-inflammatory ingredient, represented by the glucocorticoid hormone dexamethasone.
Unlike ear drops, there is another active substance in the Polidex spray, which is referred to as adrenergic agonists - phenylephrine. Due to its presence, the solution is able to cause constriction of small vessels in the nose.
Secondly, the age range for the use of these drugs is different. According to the manufacturer's recommendation, Isofra is safe for children over 1 year old, but sometimes the doctor prescribes such a remedy for infants. As for Polydexa with phenylephrine, then this medicine is not prescribed for children under two and a half years old.
Thirdly, contraindications for each of the sprays are different. If the reason not to prescribe Isofra is only intolerance to the components of the solution or allergy to other aminoglycosides, then spraying Polydexa is additionally prohibited in case of kidney diseases and angle-closure glaucoma, and if the child has high blood pressure or hyperthyroidism, treatment is carried out with caution.
The use of each of the drugs also has its own nuances. Below is a table showing all the important details:
Which medication is best for a child?
If a child has symptoms of a purulent rhinitis or sinusitis, no doubt the baby should be immediately shown to the doctor. You can't go to the pharmacy, buy a topical antibiotic on your own, be it Polydex or Isofra, and then pshik it into the child's nose. Such treatment can improve the baby's condition, but it is possible that the drug will not work or, on the contrary, worsen the course of the infection.
In order not to be mistaken, which drug is suitable for each specific situation, it is better to entrust this choice to a qualified specialist. Doctors call both drugs effective and efficient, but they focus the attention of parents on the fact that they should not be used without indications.
According to doctors, Isofra is a more narrowly targeted medication containing only one antibiotic, and Polydexa in the nose is a stronger medicine, because it is a combined agent that acts on bacteria, and on the inflammatory process, and on allergic manifestations.
In the practice of ENT specialists, the treatment of bacterial rhinitis often begins with the use of Isofra, and if such a spray is ineffective or the disease is more serious, they resort to Polydex.
In any case, it is up to the attending physician to decide which remedy to spray for a baby with a runny nose or sinusitis. A competent doctor will determine the cause of the disease and take into account the presence of contraindications, and also explain how to use the spray correctly.
If, after 3-4 days from the start of treatment, no improvement is noted, the child should be re-shown to the ENT or pediatrician to replace the medication. You cannot buy Polydexa if Isofra is ineffective on your own.
In addition, with a weak therapeutic effect, the doctor may also recommend analogues of such drugs, for example, other nasal sprays based on phenylephrine (Nazol Baby, Vibrocil), seawater preparations (Otrivin More, Morenazal, Aqua-Maris, etc.) or hormonal drugs (Nazonex).
There are reasons for the use of such drugs, therefore, children cannot be injected into the nasal passages without a doctor's prescription.
In the video below, Dr. Komarovsky will tell you if a runny nose can be treated with antibiotics in the nose.
