Medical expert of the article
New publications
Prevention of upper respiratory tract infections in children
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
The risk of contracting upper respiratory tract infections increases significantly in the autumn and winter, as well as in crowded living conditions, when a child is in preschool or school institutions, attends public events with large crowds of people, frequently uses public transport, and for young children - if there are older brothers and sisters in the family who attend kindergarten or school. That is why prevention of upper respiratory tract infections should be carried out mainly in high-risk groups of children. These include children attending kindergartens and schools, as well as children who are often ill and suffer from chronic lung pathology.
In the autumn-winter period, the systemic bacterial immunocorrector ribomunil, the systemic bacterial immunocorrector bronchomunal, the topical bacterial immunocorrector imudon, and the topical bacterial immunocorrector IRS 19 are used for prophylactic purposes. They are all prescribed 2-3 months before the onset of an acute respiratory infection epidemic.
- Ribomunil is prescribed regardless of age (for children over 6 months of age) 1 dose in the morning on an empty stomach daily in the 1st month or in the first 4 days of each week for 3 weeks. In the following 5 months - in the first 4 days of each month.
- Bronchomunal is prescribed to children from 6 months to 12 years old at 3.5 mg, to children over 12 years old - 7 mg in the morning on an empty stomach once a day for 10 days, then after a 20-day interval another 2 times for 10 days.
- Imudon is prescribed to children over 3 years old, 1 tablet to dissolve 4 times a day for 20 days.
- IRS 19, a suspension for intranasal administration in the form of a spray, is prescribed to children over 3 years old, 1 dose in each nasal passage 2 times a day for a course of 14 to 30 days.
It is important to remember that all these immunocorrectors have side effects in the form of reactions from the digestive system and allergic reactions.
For prevention purposes, homeopathic medicines are also prescribed, for example:
- oscillococcinum, 1 dose (1 tube) dissolved in 1/2 glass of water once a week for 4 weeks for children of all ages;
- Anaferon for children, 1 tablet sublingually per day for children from 6 months, for a course of up to 3 months;
- aflubin 5 drops for children from 6 months to 12 years old, 10 drops for children over 12 years old. Dissolve in 15 ml of water 2 times a day;
- Influcid for children from 3 to 6 years old, 1/2 tablet 2 times a day, over 6 years old, 1 tablet sublingually 2 times a day for 1 month.
Homeopathic medicines have virtually no side effects, rarely cause allergic reactions, and can be prescribed during epidemic periods.
[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ]