Antiviral resistance implies that a virus has changed in such a way that the antiviral drug is less effective in treating or preventing illnesses with that virus. Influenza viruses can become resistant to influenza antiviral drugs. Currently two drugs are mostly recommended for the treatment of influenza, in Europe these are oseltamivir (trade name Tamiflu) […]
Two classes of antiviral agents have been developed for prevention and treatment of influenza: the M2 channel inhibitors (amantadine and rimantadine), and the neuraminidase inhibitors (zanamivir and oseltamivir). Amantadine and rimantadine were the first generation of influenza antiviral agents. These compounds specifically block the ion channel function of the M2 protein of influenza A virus, […]
Antiviral drugs against influenza are predominantly used for the treatment of influenza. Treatment with influenza antiviral drugs should be started as soon as possible when the first symptoms of the disease are recognized and definitely within 48 hours. It has been shown that the sooner the drugs are used, the more effective they are. When […]
Antiviral drugs for influenza are an important adjunct to influenza vaccine for the treatment and prevention of influenza. However, they are not a substitute for vaccination. Treatment Treatment with neuraminidase inhibitors (NI) such as oseltamivir and zanamivir is extremely variable between countries and is usually restricted to the very ill. Treatment with NI should only […]
Antibiotics cannot be used to treat an influenza virus infection. Antibiotics kill or inhibit bacteria and should only be used to treat bacterial infections. Viral infections, like influenza, require a different treatment. Still, antibiotics can be useful during the flu season. In fact, influenza virus infection causes destruction of cells of the respiratory tract, resulting […]