NEURAMINIDASE INHIBITORS — THE GOLD STANDARD OF ANTIVIRAL INFLUENZA A THERAPY

Influenza is an acute highly contagious respiratory viral infection with a propensity for epidemic spread, affecting all age groups in various geographical conditions. A large number of annually registered cases of severe/complicated course of influenza and deaths are primarily due to the high incidence and involvement in the epidemic process of persons at risk of adverse course of the disease. The main task of the practitioner is to prevent development of severe and complicated forms of influenza that can be achieved at the expense of early diagnosis of influenza and correct evaluation of the condition of the patient given the signs of the progressive course of the disease, and by the timely indication of etiotropic therapy. The antiviral therapy should be indicated within 48 hours from the first symptoms of the disease to all patients with laboratory confirmed diagnosis «flu», as well as to patients with suspected influenza infection with a high risk of complications, regardless of vaccination status against influenza and regardless of the severity of the disease. Seasonal influenza viruses A(H3N2) and A(H1N1)pdm09 currently circulating on the territory of the Russian Federation, are characterized by high sensitivity to neuraminidase inhibitors — oseltamivir and zanamivir, which allows us to recommend these drugs as first-line drugs for the etiotropic therapy of flu