The role of herbal medicine having anti-inflammatory and secretolytic effects in the treatment of cough during ARVI

Acute respiratory viral infection is characterized by oral pharynx involvement resulting in edema and hyperemia of the mucous membranes, rhinitis and cough, which develops due to inflammatory processes in the upper airways, where cough receptors are found. The main mechanisms of viral infection removal is mucociliary clearance, which is ensured by the adequate functioning of the ciliated epithelium found in mucous membranes. The cyclic beatings of the cilia of epithelium constantly drive a flow of mucus out of the airways in the proximal direction. Coughing is an additional reflex technique to clear the airways. Much attention is paid to secretomotor and secretolytic therapy in the treatment of cough. Many medicinal herbs have such properties, which are widely used in the treatment of cough in children: plantain leaf, coltsfoot leaf, thermopsis herb, ipecacuanha root, marshmallow root, licorice root, anise fruit, thyme (thyme) herb extract, ivy leaf extract. Bronchipret Syrup is one of the well-known combined officinal herbal medicines, which contains liquid extracts of ivy leaves and thyme grass. Ivy enhances the production of surfactant, increases the number of |32-adrenergic receptors on the surface of the alveolar cells found throughout the bronchial tree, to which active substance extracted from ivy (а-hederin) having bronchospasmolytic and expectorant effects is attached. The thymol in thyme has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and in general, the components of ivy and thyme have a synergistic effect -reinforcing each other’s action. A considerable number of clinical studies showed high efficacy and safety of Bronchipret, which makes it possible to recommend it as the drug of choice, if the symptomatic cough therapy is required in children with acute respiratory viral infections. The article describes the main causes and forms of cough in children. It gives an estimate of efficacy and safety of the herb secretolytic medicine Bronchipret in the treatment of cough in acute respiratory viral infections. A clinical example shows the efficacy of the use of Bronchipret in the treatment of prolonged cough in a child with acute respiratory viral infection