Ribavirin small-particle aerosol treatment of influenza.
In an outbreak of influenza virus A/England/333/80(H1N1) infections in college students, 14 randomly selected patients were treated by inhalation of ribavirin small-particle aerosol through a face mask. They retained an average estimated 1.15 g of drug in 23 h of treatment given over 3 days. 17 patients served as controls. Ribavirin aerosol treatment had a therapeutic effect judged by the highly significant reduction in height and duration of fever, reduction in systemic illness, and disappearance of influenza virus from respiratory secretions. 1 additional patient with influenzal pneumonia caused by a strain of influenza virus A/Bangkok/79(H3N2) recovered promptly with ribavirin aerosol treatment.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D000547:Amantadine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010316:Particle Size; D011897:Random Allocation; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012263:Ribonucleosides / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000336:Aerosols; D012263:Ribonucleosides; D012254:Ribavirin; D000547:Amantadine