Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Interferon Α-2B in the Prevention of Acute Respiratory Infections (including COVID-19) among Children in Uzbekistan

Objective. To study the preventive efficacy and safety of interferon α-2b (IFN-α2b) with antioxidants against acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) among children in Uzbekistan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients and methods. An open-label prospective observational study included 300 first-grade pupils (age 6–7 years) from schools in Tashkent (Uzbekistan). Children were evenly divided into three groups: the first and second (study) groups from different schools received IFN-α2b (Viferon® gel for external and local use, 36,000 IU/g); the third group (control) did not receive the medication. The main criteria for assessing the effectiveness of prevention were the incidence of ARVI within 3 months after inclusion in the study, duration and severity of clinical symptoms of the disease, and the frequency of adverse events associated with the use of the study medication. Results. Observation after 30 to 90 days from the beginning of treatment showed a statistically significant increase in the proportion of ARVI cases in the control group compared to the study groups where Viferon® gel was used. The average duration of the febrile period in children with ARVI in the first group was the lowest and amounted to 3.1 ± 0.4 days, in the second group – 3.8 ± 0.5 days, in the third group – 5.4 ± 1.1 days (p1–3 = 0.002 and p2–3 = 0.003, Mann–Whitney U test with adjustment to multiple comparisons). Also, the duration of intoxication symptoms and catarrhal phenomena in children with ARVI in the groups receiving IFN-α2b was significantly shorter than in the control group. No cases of COVID-19 were registered in the study groups during the entire period of observation, while in the control group, markers of infection were detected in 30 children. There were no adverse events associated with the administration of IFN-α2b (Viferon® gel for external and local use 36,000 IU/g). Conclusion. In children who received IFN-α2b with antioxidants, a statistically significant decrease in ARVI episodes was found, as well as rapid relief of intoxication symptoms and catarrhal phenomena in the event of disease. The pronounced effectiveness and the absence of adverse events give reason to recommend the use of Viferon® gel for the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections, as well as COVID-19 in children. Key words: interferon α-2b, antioxidants, prevention of acute respiratory viral infections, children