Local interferon therapy in immunorehabilitation of young children who frequently and for long periods fall ill with respiratory diseases

The problem of children falling ill frequently and for long periods (FIFL) against the background of dysregulatory processes in the immune system, and hence, search for optimal immunorehabilitation measures, are topical issues in everyday paediatric practice. The objective of the study was to work out an ambulatory programme of two-stage immunorehabilitation that includes local interferon therapy of frequently ill children. We examined 150 children aged 1.5–3.5 y, who attended preschool, of them 100 children comprised the FIFL group, whose morbidity rate related to acute respiratory infections (ARI) was 8 to 12 times a year, 50 children comprised the control group who got ARI 2 to 4 times a year. Children of both groups were tested for a number of immunological parameters (levels of Т and В cells, salivary immunoglobulin А and nasal secretion, salivary lysozyme). Clinico-immunological testing was performed before and after recovery for assessment of the effectiveness of the programme of two-stage immunorehabilitation with the use of local interferon therapy with recombinant interferon alpha-2b in combination with antioxidants (Viferon® gel) administered in 40 children from the FIFL group. The developed programme has demonstrated its clinico-immunological effectiveness: against the background of regression of dysregolatory processes in the immune system the number of ARI episodes significantly decreased, the duration and severity of their manifestation also decreased, the number of exacerbations of chronic diseases of the Waldeyer’s lymphatic ring was reduced. © 2018, Dynasty Publishing House. All rights reserved.