Acute respiratory diseases (ARIs), a group of infectious diseases with similar epidemiological and clinical characteristics, are the most common reason for seeking medical care, children skipping attendance of educational institutions and parents skipping work. The clinical picture of ARI is characterized by a combination of the following symptoms: increased body temperature, nasal discharge, mostly mucous, nasal congestion, sore or scratchy throat and cough. In some cases, myalgia and manifestations of asthenia such as weakness, rapid fatigue, headache and decreased appetite may be noted. Pathogenetic therapy of ARI is based on clinical syndromes and includes symptomatic, antiviral and antibacterial drugs, also mucolytics, expectorants, cough suppressants; H1-histamine receptor blockers and immunocorrectors if necessary. Hyperthermia is the most significant problem faced by parents of young patients and pediatricians when dealing with ARI. The production of interferon gamma, interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor, which stimulate the production of IgG, is significantly increased with fever. Therefore, it is especially important to know the algorithms of behavior and criteria for understanding when and what antipyretics should be prescribed to a child. Administration of antipyretics for fever is aimed not only at stopping the fever, but also to improve the child’s wellbeing and reduce the pain syndrome during ARI. When choosing antipyretics, it is necessary to consider the age of the child, the preferred method of administration, the allowable doses, the frequency of administration, the prevention of complications in children at risk. Antipyretics may be prescribed in the form of combined drugs, not only able to reduce fever, but also eliminate other symptoms that occur against the background of acute respiratory infection.
Antihistamine therapy in pediatric practice