Among the drugs that affect the child's immune system, Genferon Light is quite popular. At what age is this medicine prescribed in candles, how exactly does it affect the immunity of babies and is it used for prevention?
Release form
One package of Genferon Light includes 5 or 10 rectal / vaginal suppositories. They have a cylindrical shape and a pointed end. The color of the suppositories is white, but the drug may also have a yellow tint. Usually the structure of the drug is homogeneous, but inside there may be a depression in the form of a funnel or an air rod.
The drug is also available in liquid form, which is a spray into the nose. One dose of such a drug contains 50,000 IU of the active ingredient, and the bottle contains 100 doses. There is also the medicine Genferon, but it differs from the Genferon Light preparations both in composition (it contains benzocaine) and in the concentration of interferon, therefore it is not used in children under 7 years of age.
Composition
The composition of the candles includes two active components at once. One of them is alpha-2B interferon. It can contain either 125,000 IU or 250,000 IU in one suppository. The second ingredient is taurine. It, regardless of the dosage of interferon, is presented in the drug in the amount of 5 mg per candle.
Among the excipients of the drug, you can see purified water, solid fats, citric acid and T2 emulsifier. There are also substances such as polysorbate 80, macrogol 1500 and dextran 60,000 in the composition of the drug. All these components are added during the manufacture to obtain candles weighing 0.8 g.
Operating principle
The medication belongs to drugs with an immunomodulatory effect. In this case, the drug affects both locally and systemically, since more than 80% of interferon from suppositories is absorbed and enters the bloodstream. The maximum concentration of this substance in the serum is determined approximately 5 hours after the administration of the drug rectally, and its half-life occurs in 12 hours.
Let's listen to the doctor's opinion on the Genferon Light candles.
Due to the presence of interferon in the composition, suppositories have antiviral and antibacterial effects. Their use activates some enzymes inside cells, resulting in inhibition of viral reproduction.
The effect of suppositories on the patient's immune system is to enhance cellular responses to viral invasion or penetration of intracellular parasites, due to which the immune response becomes more pronounced. The medication activates killer T cells and natural killer cells, and also affects B lymphocytes and their ability to produce antibodies.
The use of suppositories also affects the activity of phagocytosis and macrophages. In addition, leukocytes activated under the influence of interferon quickly eliminate pathological foci in the mucous membrane, and the production of IgA is restored.
The second component of the drug - taurine - normalizes metabolic processes and promotes tissue regeneration. Such a substance has the ability to stabilize membranes and an antioxidant effect. In addition, it supports the biological activity of interferon, due to which the therapeutic effect of suppositories is further enhanced.
Indications
Genferon Light is prescribed to a child:
- For the treatment of infections of the genitourinary system.
- As one of the drugs for the complex treatment of ARVI, as well as other viral or bacterial infections, for example, meningitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, herpes.
From what age is it allowed to take?
The use of Genferon Light candles in children is possible from birth, even with prematurity. At the same time, for the smallest patients, the drug is prescribed in a dosage of 125000 IU, which is often called children's. A medication with 250000ME, like Genferon suppositories with the same dosage, can be used from the age of 7. The spray form is not prescribed for children under 14 years of age. In addition, under the age of 14, vaginal administration of the medication in suppositories is not recommended.
Contraindications
The medicine should not be used if a small patient is found to be intolerant to taurine, interferon or other ingredients of suppositories. The manufacturer does not indicate other contraindications to the use of the medication, however, in case of autoimmune diseases or allergies, the use of Genferon Light requires caution and specialist advice.
Side effects
The use of Genferon Light can provoke an allergic reaction, for example, burning or itching. Such negative symptoms are usually reversible, and once treatment is stopped, they disappear completely within a few days.
Rarely, treatment can cause fatigue, chills, headaches, sweating, fever, and other symptoms. If they occur, the administration of suppositories is advised to stop and consult with a doctor regarding reducing a single dosage or replacing it with another medication. If the child's temperature rises after the injection of the candle, a single dose of 250 mg of paracetamol is prescribed.
Instructions for use
According to the annotation, the suppository can be inserted into the rectum as well as used vaginally. The doctor determines the dosage, method of application and duration of therapy in each case individually. In this case, the following schemes are most often used:
- Children under 7 years old are usually prescribed suppositories with a dosage of 125,000 IU of interferon in one piece. This is a single dose of the drug.
- At the age of over 7 years, a medicine with a higher concentration of interferon is used - 250,000 IU in 1 suppository.
- If a child has ARVI or other acute viral disease, the medicine is injected into the rectum twice a day (there should be an interval of 12 hours between use). Treatment is prescribed for 5 days, and if the symptoms of the disease still persist, the course can be repeated after a five-day break.
- If suppositories are prescribed to a child with chronic viral pathology, as an adjunct to other medicines, then they are used twice a day in a 10-day course, after which they switch to a single use (the suppository is administered rectally before bedtime) every other day.
- Genferon Light is prescribed for babies with urogenital infections in a course of 10 days. In this case, the candle is injected into the rectum twice a day with a pause of 12 hours.
For information on how to insert a suppository, see the next video.
Overdose
The manufacturer has no data on the negative effects of high doses of Genferon. If by chance the suppositories were injected into the rectum in a larger quantity than the pediatrician prescribed, you should take a break for 24 hours. After a day, therapy can be continued according to the scheme recommended by the doctor.
Interaction with other drugs
Suppositories are often prescribed as one of the drugs for the complex treatment of the disease, therefore Genferon Light can be combined with antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial drugs. It is noticed that in such a combination, medicines enhance each other's action.
Terms of sale
To buy a pack of suppositories with an interferon concentration of 250000 IU in a pharmacy, you first need to get a prescription from a doctor. But the drug with a lower dosage, containing 125000 IU of interferon in one candle, is an over-the-counter drug. The average price of a pack of 10 suppositories of 125000 IU of the active compound is 270-340 rubles, and a drug with a higher concentration of interferon is 380-420 rubles.
Storage conditions and shelf life
The recommended temperature conditions for storing Genferon Light candles at home is the range from +2 to +8 degrees Celsius, that is, the medication should be kept in the refrigerator. If the drug has expired (it is 2 years), then it is unacceptable to use it to treat a child.
Reviews
There are many good reviews about the treatment of children with Genferon Light candles. In them, mothers note that the drug helped to quickly get rid of a viral disease, and the child tolerated this drug without any unpleasant side symptoms. However, you can also find negative reviews when the medication did not have the desired effect, which was often associated with a severe course of the disease.
Analogs
Genferon Light can be replaced by other drugs that contain interferon alpha, for example:
- Viferon. Such a medication based on interferon is used for chickenpox, acute respiratory viral infections and many other diseases in babies from birth. It is released in gel and candles. In addition, there is Viferon ointment, which is used to lubricate the skin and mucous membranes of children over a year old.
- Grippferon. Such nasal drops or nasal spray are used for influenza and other viral infections of the nasopharynx. This medicine can even be used in nursing infants.
In case of viral diseases, instead of Genferon or in addition to it, the doctor may recommend antiviral drugs, for example, Kagocel tablets or Orvirem syrup.
It should also be mentioned that some mothers prefer to treat children with homeopathy, for example, instead of interferon preparations, they give the child homeopathic remedies such as Aflubin or Anaferon. However, doctors, including the well-known pediatrician Komarovsky, do not consider them an adequate replacement and doubt their effectiveness.
