Currently, the use of tablets and ointments acyclovir is quite widespread in pediatric practice and not only. Parents independently use it for various types of rashes in children. Adults are used for barley, stomatitis, acne. But, you need to know, the effect of the drug is directed specifically to the group of herpes viruses and it cannot affect other viruses or bacteria. So when and from what does acyclovir ointment help?
What infections and what does acyclovir ointment help with?
The range of application of acyclovir is wide, this is due to the fact that many viruses are included in the group of herpetic infections. Herpes viruses and the skin manifestations caused by them:
• Herpes of the 1st type - manifests itself in the form of nasal and ulcers around the mouth, on the lips. If it multiplies in the mouth, herpes stomatitis appears, on tonsils - or tonsillitis, if conjunctivitis on the mucous membrane of the eye;
• Herpes of the 2nd type - ulcers around or inside the genitals;
• Herpes of the 3rd type - chicken pox, herpes zoster, stomatitis and conjunctivitis are possible;
• the 4th type causes infectious mononucleosis, which provokes the manifestations of a characteristic rash;
• the 5th type is cytomegalovirus, rarely, but skin manifestations are possible;
• Herpes of the 6th type, more characteristic of childhood, causes the disease "roseola".
From these diseases, acyclovir ointment can help, it has proven its effectiveness in numerous clinical studies.
Release form and composition of the ointment
Ointment is available in two versions:
• for cutaneous use, the composition of acyclovir is 5%;
• in ophthalmic practice - 3% of the active substance.
It has the consistency of a cream or ointment. Acyclovir ointment helps when applied to the skin of the face, genitals. The cream is best used on the body when quick drying is required and minimal contact with clothing.
Composition: active substance 0.05g, lipid component, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, propylene glycol and water.
What does acyclovir ointment do and how?
The mechanism of action is that when it enters an infected cell, it blocks the formation of new DNA. This stops the process of reproduction of the virus and its spread to neighboring healthy cells.
By eliminating the virus, it helps alleviate the itching and burning sensation that occurs with shingles and chickenpox in adults. It leads to the rapid appearance of crusts and the removal of painful vesicles. Children with chickenpox, ointment is not prescribed. This is due to the rapid regeneration of the skin and the mild course of the disease.
During stomatitis and tonsillitis, which are accompanied by severe pain - it has an analgesic effect.
With roseola or another sudden exanthema, it accelerates the formation of crusts and reduces the likelihood of new rashes.
Cytomegalovirus infection causes skin manifestations with very weakened immunity in adults (for example, HIV infection) or if the child has become infected in utero. What will help acyclovir ointment in this case? It helps only in complex therapy with a tablet or injection form. It inhibits the development of epidermal lesions and visceral complications.
Another of its effects is an immunostimulating effect in places of skin damage.
Why does acyclovir ointment not help
An example when the acyclovir ointment does not help and it is useless - from a rash with enterovirus infection. In manifestations, it is very similar to herpes, and therefore often parents and even pediatricians with little experience may mistakenly take her for a herpes infection, lubricating the rash in vain.
The same applies to herpetic sore throat, which is provoked by enterovirus and the effect of acyclovir does not apply to it.
Barley for centuries, acne - have a bacterial origin. Therefore, lubricating them with antiherpetic ointment will not give an effect.
Contraindications to the use of ointment
Despite the fact that, when applied topically, the drug is practically not absorbed into the general bloodstream, nevertheless, like any drug, acyclovir has contraindications:
• An allergic reaction to previous use and its analogues in the form of increased itching, burning and redness at the site of application.
• The safety of use during pregnancy - not proven as there have been no official clinical studies in women with bearing a child.
• When breastfeeding - acyclovir does not penetrate into milk, but it should be used only if another type of treatment has not yielded positive results.
• Intolerance to one of the components of the drug.
A preliminary consultation with a doctor is recommended to eliminate possible risks during use.
How to use Acyclovir ointment so that it helps
To achieve the effect of treatment, it is necessary to take into account some aspects in the application of the ointment:
• Apply to the affected areas of the skin or mucous membrane with a thin layer.
• Use at an early stage of the disease, gives the most effective result.
• The duration of the drug is about 4 hours. With such an interval, it needs to be used, that is, 6 times a day.
• You must continue to use for 5 to 10 days, even if the effect is achieved. Discontinuation of use ahead of schedule may provoke a relapse or increased manifestations.
• For herpetic keratitis, lay the ointment directly in the conjunctival sac. The volume is small - a thin strip will be enough.
• To prevent recurrence of genital infection, use without exacerbation and during the height of the disease. Apply to the mucosa of the genital organs with a multiplicity of 10 days.
Side effects of the application
Acyclovir ointment effectively helps with treatment. But it also has adverse reactions. When exposed, it is not able to cause systemic adverse reactions. Locally, there are effects in the form of: itching, soreness, the appearance of an allergic rash or urticaria. When applied to the mucous membrane of the eye: redness and swelling of the eyelids, photophobia, rapid eye fatigue.
Analogs of ointment that help identically to acyclovir
Acyclovir ointment, a very budget and effective option. However, there are analogues with a more advanced composition:
1. Acigerpine;
2. Zovirax;
3. Virolex;
4. Valcite;
5. Herperax.
For the treatment of keratitis and conjunctivitis caused by herpes: idoxuridine and vidarabine.
Why does acyclovir ointment stop helping and how soon?
Despite the effectiveness of acyclovir therapy, virologists are increasingly sounding the alarm that his century may soon end.
Recently, cases have become more frequent when the virus is resistant to the drug. Especially often this is detected in people with weakened immunity and HIV-infected. Despite the use of the drug, virus isolation and an increase in the symptoms of the disease continue from the rashes. In this case, they talk about the resistance of the virus. It can be overcome by increasing the dosage of the drug, but not all patients respond even to high doses. Then other drugs are used, for example: toxic and expensive foscarnet.
So that herpes viruses do not lose sensitivity to acyclovir, doctors recommend not using the drug without a prescription. Uncontrolled use will lead to complete resistance and then the acyclovir ointment will not be able to help, losing its relevance.
