Acute respiratory infections: how to avoid polypharmacy
DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2025-9-12-9
S.V. Nikolaeva1, O.O. Pogorelova1, A.V. Gorelov1,2
1Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russian Federation
2Russian University of Medicine, Moscow, Russian Federation
This article addresses a pressing topic: the current epidemiological situation regarding acute respiratory viral infections (ARVIs) and influenza. The primary clinical manifestations of ARVI are catarrhal symptoms and febrile-intoxication syndrome, which develop 2–7 days after the pathogen enters the body. One of the most common patient complaints during ARVI is sore throat. Current approaches to treating acute respiratory diseases involve prescribing etiotropic drugs for influenza. However, etiotropic agents are currently unavailable for ARVIs caused by diverse respiratory viruses and pneumotropic bacteria. Furthermore, polypragmasy is a critical contemporary issue, necessitating that the pharmacotherapeutic complex for ARVI treatment be minimized and contain only medicinal products with proven efficacy. It is demonstrated that a preparation containing cetylpyridinium chloride and benzydamine is effective as symptomatic therapy for ARVI and influenza (specifically for sore throat). The article emphasizes the evidence base supporting the efficacy and safety of this preparation. This article, used for the symptomatic therapy of influenza and ARVI, exhibits pronounced anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antiseptic effects due to the synergistic action of its components.
Keywords: sore throat, catarrhal syndrome, ARVI, influenza, SARS-CoV-2, treatment.
For citation: Nikolaeva S.V., Pogorelova O.O., Gorelov A.V. Acute respiratory infections: how to avoid polypharmacy. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2025;9(12):885–890 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2025-9-12-9
About the authors:
Svetlana V. Nikolaeva — Dr. Sc. (Med.), Leading Researcher of the Clinical Department of Infectious Pathology, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being; 3A, Novogireevskaya str., Moscow, 111123, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0003-3880-8112
Olga O. Pogorelova — C. Sc. (Med.), Senior Researcher of the Clinical Department of Infectious Pathology, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being; 3A, Novogireevskaya str., Moscow, 111123, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0002-3346-1132
Alexander V. Gorelov — Dr. Sc. (Med.), Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being; 3A, Novogireevskaya str., Moscow, 111123, Russian Federation; Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Russian University of Medicine; 4, Dolgorukovskaya str., Moscow, 127006, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0001-9257-0171
Contact information: Svetlana V. Nikolaeva, e-mail: nikolaeva@list.ru
Financial Disclosure: no authors have a financial or property interest in any material or method mentioned.
There is no conflict of interest.
Received 02.09.2025.
Revised 25.09.2025.
Accepted 20.10.2025.
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