REMANTADINE THERAPY IN CHILDREN WITH INFL UENZA

The therapeutical efficacy of remantadine was studied in influenza in- and out-patients aged 3-14 years during consecutive influenza epidemi cs. The drug was given to ill children on the first or second day from the onset of the disease at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg of body weight 3 time s a day for 3 days. The curative effect of remantadine was established not only in influenza A, but also in influenza B infections, as well as in mixed infections with other respiratory agents and with pathogen s of non-influenza etiology, which might be the result of its antitoxi c activity. Remantadine application decreased fever and complication r ates and reduced the duration of intoxication symptoms and the disease s as a whole. A more pronounced drug activity was observed when given to children on the first day of the diseases. Remantadine exerted no t oxic effect on the basic functions of the child's body. Ill children d isplayed no inhibitory activity on cell and humoral immunity, as well as on a serum antibody response to hemagglutinin of influenza virus.