Acute respiratory viral infections account for about 75% of all infectious and parasitic diseases. Respiratory viruses infect the body primarily through the nose, entering epithelial cells of the mucosa. Viral replication then progresses downward into the lower respiratory tract. Infection in the lower respiratory tract is a serious complication and, according to the World Health Organization, represents the fourth leading cause of mortality globally.

Young children and pregnant women are at particularly high risk. Children, especially newborns, experience severe ARVI because their immune systems are immature. During pregnancy, ARVI represents a dual risk for the pregnant woman and the developing fetus. Fetal brain development may be impaired, potentially resulting in psychiatric disorders. Therefore, ARVI prevention is especially critical in these groups.

One prevention strategy is to protect the main viral entry route – the nasal mucosa, which serves as the primary site of respiratory virus penetration and replication. Interferon α-2b (IFN-α2b) preparations enhance local nasal immunity. This approach has an important advantage: because it is nonspecific, it is effective against all respiratory viruses by activating the body’s endogenous immune response.

Researchers from leading Russian universities, together with clinicians, evaluated the efficacy and safety of a low-dose IFN-α2b preparation for the prevention of ARVI in pregnant women and newborns.

Study Design

Two categories of participants were included in the study:

  • Pregnant women at various gestational ages are receiving outpatient care in antenatal clinics.
  • Newborns aged 2–3 days who were hospitalized in a children’s hospital for non-respiratory conditions. These newborns were being treated for intrauterine infections, perinatal nervous system lesions, and various disease forms.

All participants were divided into two groups: a prophylaxis group and a control group. Individuals in the prophylaxis group received preventive treatment with intranasal interferon α-2b at a dose of 500 IU per administration. The prophylaxis regimen for pregnant women was one dose twice daily. For newborns, one dose was administered every 4 hours. The duration of prophylactic treatment for all participants was 10 days.

Researchers analyzed blood biochemistry to assess safety and monitored participants for adverse effects.

Study Results

Among newborns, no cases of ARVI were recorded during the study, neither in the prophylaxis group nor in the control group. The researchers attributed this to effective anti-epidemic measures in the hospital setting. Blood tests showed no statistically significant differences between groups, and all values remained within normal ranges. No adverse effects were observed.

Among pregnant women, ARVI cases were recorded because participants were monitored as outpatients. In the prophylaxis group, the incidence was 24%, and none of the pregnant women who became ill developed complications. No adverse effects were observed. In the control group, the incidence was 55%.

Detailed analysis of disease structure revealed significant differences:

  • In the control group, 15% of ARVI cases required antibiotic therapy due to complications such as sinusitis, otitis, and bronchitis.
  • Complications were most often observed when the pregnancy period fell between 12 and 21 weeks. In 3% of cases, there was a threat of pregnancy termination, leading to hospitalization.
  • In the control group, at 30 to 38 weeks of gestation, ARVI was associated with abnormalities in uteroplacental blood flow.

Based on the study results, researchers concluded that intranasal IFN-α2b is safe and highly effective for preventing ARVI. Intranasal interferon α-2b not only reduced ARVI incidence by about half but also ensured milder disease with no complications. The authors highlighted an important feature of the preparation used in the study: it contained special polyelectrolyte additives that prolong retention on the nasal mucosa and reduce mucosal edema.

Conclusion

Acute respiratory viral infections account for roughly three-quarters of infectious and parasitic diseases. ARVI complications pose a significant threat to life. Children and pregnant women are in a special risk group because children lack a fully developed immune system, whereas pregnant women face a dual risk – to themselves and to their future child. Prevention through protection of the nasal mucosa is considered effective, as it targets the primary site of viral entry. Intranasal interferon α-2b enhances local nasal immunity and therefore protects against all respiratory viruses. In newborns aged 2–3 days, low-dose intranasal IFN-α2b effectively protected against ARVI and was safe, as it did not alter blood biochemistry or cause adverse effects. In pregnant women, the same interferon preparation reduced ARVI incidence by half. Importantly, among those who received prophylactic intranasal IFN-α2b, no complications developed, unlike in the control group.

Reference

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