Russia's Ministry of Health has approved new clinical guidelines for treating acute respiratory viral infections in children, introducing updated medication protocols and revised advice on fever diets and fluid intake.
Under the approved document, reported by Russian news agency RIA Novosti, paediatric respiratory viral infections will be divided into three distinct categories based on symptoms: mild, moderate, and severe. Medical treatment will be prescribed according to the specific severity level of the patient.
For the first time, children presenting with signs of acute tracheitis and a productive cough with difficult-to-clear sputum will be prescribed herbal medicines, such as primrose root extract and thyme herb extract, provided there are no contraindications.
The Ministry of Health emphasized in the document that there is no scientific evidence proving herbal medicines are effective in treating acute respiratory viral infections in children. Relying on modern medical research, the ministry noted that pharmaceutical medications can sometimes be avoided, adding that honey, lemon, and herbal teas may be effective.
New Antiviral Drugs and Dietary Rules
The updated guidance introduces several pharmaceutical drugs into paediatric care, including Baloxavir marboxil and Umifenovir. Physicians will prescribe these antiviral medications depending on the patient's age, body weight, and specific clinical symptoms.
The document also establishes specific dietary and hydration guidelines for sick children. The ministry recommends that parents do not force children to eat while they have a fever. Furthermore, fluid intake during illness should remain rational, as the ministry noted that the benefits of heavy fluid administration have proven questionable.
Healthcare Context and Antiviral Treatments
The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation is the federal executive body responsible for healthcare policy, public health standards, and medical regulations across Russia. Acute respiratory viral infection is an umbrella clinical term for common contagious viral illnesses affecting the upper respiratory tract.
Among the newly specified pharmaceutical options, Baloxavir marboxil is an antiviral medication designed to inhibit influenza virus replication, while Umifenovir is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent commonly used in Russia to treat respiratory infections. Herbal extracts from thyme and primrose root have long been traditional botanical remedies used as expectorants to help clear airway mucus.
The approval of the paediatric respiratory guidelines follows previous regulatory measures issued by the ministry. The Ministry of Health previously approved nine distinct home treatment schemes for coronavirus, setting out detailed protocols for prescribing direct-acting antiviral medications to patients with varying cases of the disease.
