Many adults consider Oxolinic Ointment to be an effective antiviral medicine and is used to protect against colds and flu. They lubricate the nasal mucosa with such a means before leaving the house to prevent infection. But is such a drug allowed in childhood, when it is used in the treatment of children and is it prescribed for prevention?
Release form
Oxolinic ointment, which is also called Oxolinum, is produced by many domestic pharmaceutical factories. Depending on the purpose of use and composition, this drug is of two types:
- An ointment used externally. It is more concentrated and applied exclusively to the skin.
- Nasal ointment. This remedy is used only on mucous membranes. This drug should be used to lubricate the nasal passages from the inside. In addition, it is used to treat the mucous membranes of the mouth or conjunctiva.
Both Oxolin variants look like a thick, whitish mass. It is translucent and quite dense, it can cast yellow, gray or pink, but does not contain any inclusions.
One tube often holds 10 grams of ointment, but you can also find packages with a different amount of the drug on sale (tubes and jars that contain from 5 to 50 g of Oxolin).
Composition
The main ingredient in any Oxolinic ointment is called dioxotetrahydroxytetrahydronaphthalene. Such a long name is replaced by the word "oxolin". Its concentration in different ointments is different:
- Nasal ointment contains only 0.25% of such a component, that is, its amount per 1 gram is 2.5 mg.
- In the ointment, which should be treated with the skin, the concentration of the active substance is 3%, which corresponds to 30 mg in each gram of such a drug.
The auxiliary ingredients of the drug are petroleum jelly and liquid paraffin oil (also called liquid paraffin).
Operating principle
Oxolin has an antiviral effect associated with a violation of the reproduction of viruses. The drug affects infected cells and prevents the formation of new viral particles, as a result of which the development of the disease slows down and those viruses that are already in the body die before they can infect new cells. In addition, the drug prevents viruses from binding to cell membranes, which determines its preventive effect.
Oxolinic ointment is effective against:
- adenoviruses;
- papillomaviruses;
- herpes viruses (including the causative agent of chickenpox);
- molluscum contagiosum virus;
- influenza viruses.
The active substance from the ointment applied to the skin (3%) is absorbed only by 5%, and from the nasal ointment - by 20%. Once in the body, oxolin does not accumulate and is excreted in the urine during the day.
Indications
The scope of Oxolinum is determined by the type of drug. Oxolinic Nasal Ointment is used:
- as a prophylactic agent against viral diseases of the nasopharynx;
- with a cold, which has a viral nature;
- with stomatitis and to prevent the appearance of ulcers in the mouth;
- with keratitis, conjunctivitis and other viral eye diseases.
3% Oxolinic ointment is used:
- with herpes simplex, as well as with chickenpox;
- with molluscum contagiosum;
- from warts and papillomas;
- with scaly, vesicular or shingles;
- with psoriasis (as an adjunct to other therapy).
From what age is it allowed to take?
According to the instructions for the drug, Oxolinic ointment is prescribed for children over two years old, which is associated with the sufficient maturity of the respiratory organs of such children. In younger patients, the nasal passages are too narrow, and the use of the ointment can provoke the spread of infection and inflammation of the middle ear. In addition, infants' airways are more prone to cramping.
At the same time, many doctors consider Oxolin to be harmless for young babies, therefore, although rarely, the drug can be prescribed even to infants.
However, use of the medicine in newborns and older infants (under 2 years of age) without consulting a doctor is prohibited... Only a specialist can assess whether such a medication is needed for such small patients, and will advise on how to apply it correctly.
Contraindications
Treatment with Oxolinum is prohibited in case of individual intolerance to its components. In addition, it is impossible to lubricate the mucous membranes with 3% ointment, because this will provoke local irritation and cause excessive absorption of the drug into the blood.
It is also not recommended to lubricate the skin with 0.25% ointment, after all, a low concentration of the active compound of such a medication will not affect the affected tissues.
Side effects
In some patients, after treatment with Oxolin, irritation, redness, increased nasal discharge or itching may occur. Occasionally, an allergic reaction develops to such a drug, for example, dermatitis.
Instructions for use
Oxolinic ointment is recommended to treat the nasal mucosa twice or three times a day, carefully distributing the medication in a thin layer. You can apply the medicine either with your finger or with a cotton swab. If a child protests against smearing, you can apply the ointment first to your skin, showing that it is harmless.
It is necessary to lubricate the spout very carefully so as not to damage the mucous membrane during manipulation. If the child is not yet three years old, the ointment can be mixed with baby cream in a 1 to 1 ratio.
The duration of use for a cold is usually 3-4 days. If the agent is used prophylactically, it can be used throughout the entire dangerous period of the epidemic with a total duration up to 25 days.
When using a 3% ointment, such a drug is applied in a thin layer to the affected skin. The frequency of treatment is also 2-3 times a day. The medicine is spread over the surface with stroking movements, but not rubbed. Cover the treated area with a bandage.
The duration of use of this type of Oxolin is from 2 to 8 weeks. The duration of treatment is determined by the speed of recovery. If the ointment is used for warts, then the treatment is often even longer (2-3 months).
If a child has viral stomatitis, then 0.25% of the drug is applied to the entire mucous membrane of the mouth three times or four times a day. It is recommended to cleanse the mouth with any antiseptic medicine before processing. The medication is used until complete healing.
Overdose
Previously, there were no cases of a negative effect of Oxolin applied in excess. In case of an overdose of the drug, its side effects may appear.
Terms of sale
Oxolinic ointment can be freely purchased at almost any pharmacy, because it is an over-the-counter drug of domestic production. The average cost of 10 grams of a drug is 40 rubles.
Storage features
Shelf life of Oxolinic ointment is 2 years. So that during storage the drug does not lose its properties, it is advised to keep it at a temperature from +5 to +15 degrees... The storage place for Oxolinum should be inaccessible to babies.
Reviews
The use of Oxolin in children is responded to in different ways. The advantages of the drug include an affordable price, low absorbency, neutral odor, no side effects and safety for children of any age. At the same time, many parents complain that the effectiveness of such an ointment is low. In addition, the drug, although rare, can provoke irritation of the mucous membrane.
The opinion of Dr. Komarovsky
A well-known pediatrician believes that it is inappropriate to use Oxolinic ointment for prophylactic purposes. He classifies this drug (like many other antiviral medicines) as a drug whose effectiveness has not been proven. According to Komarovsky, petroleum jelly or ordinary baby cream has the same effects.
In addition, the popular doctor is sure that more effective preventive measures against ARVI and colds are frequent ventilation, humidification of the air, exclusion of contact with sick people, good nutrition and adherence to personal hygiene rules.
Next, watch the video in which Dr. Komarovsky shares his opinion on oxolinic ointment.
Analogs
Instead of nasal ointment, other antiviral agents can be used, for example, Amiksin, Isoprinosin, Kagocel, Amizon, Ingavirin, Arbidol, Panavir and others. Local antiviral agents, which are also applied to the skin, for example, Zovirax or Acyclovir, can replace the medicine for external treatment.
Oxolin or Viferon?
Viferon in the form of an ointment, like Oxolin, is in demand as a prophylactic agent against influenza and other viral infections of the respiratory tract. However, the mechanism of action of these agents is different.
While Oxolinic ointment acts directly on viruses and prevents them from multiplying, Viferon ointment is able to stimulate the formation of interferon, a substance that helps destroy viruses after they enter the body.
It turns out that Viferon prepares the body in advance for the attack of viruses, preventing infection, and Oxolin affects already trapped viral particles, helping to recover faster. In addition, interferon under the action of Viferon is formed not only in the nasopharynx, but also in other tissues, protecting the oral cavity and eyes from infection. Oxolin has no such effect - when treating the nose, it only affects the nasal mucosa.
