title: [Prevention of acute respiratory infections in healthy young adults by using oral immunomodulators].
abstract: It is a general experience at army posts that right after the joining up period the number of airway infections suddenly increases. The upper and lower airway infections are especially facilitated by the confinement of military barracks, and the high number of smokers among soldiers. In the winter of 1995/96 at an army post of the Hungarian National Defense Forces authors treated 68 healthy, young recruits, aged between 18-23 preventively with an immunomodulant which contains lyophilized bacterial extracts, and placebo. The aim was to try this medicine on healthy adults to prevent or influence acute respiratory infections. In one third of the nine-month long follow-up period, a blind study was carried out, and two thirds of it were spent with a double blind one. The number of airway infections and off duty days was reduced by more than 40% in the group which was treated with the immunomodulant. In case of airway infection the complains and the signs were also milder in this group. Furthermore the medicine consumption decreased too. All of these indicate that the tried immunomodulant can be used in the primary prevention of airway infections among healthy adults even in a markedly infective environment.
authors.affiliation: Országos Kardiológiai Intézet, Budapest.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Székely
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bikk
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gálffy
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic