Use of Echinacea-based medicinal preparations for prevention and treatment of acute respiratory infections in children
Plants of the genus Echinacea have a centuries-old history of being used as medicinal preparations in various diseases. At present, Echinacea-based preparations are widely used in many countries for prevention and treatment of acute respiratory infections (ARI). Experimental studies have shown that a number of substances found in Echinacea have an immunomodulating effect. On the whole, clinical trials are indicative of the efficacy and safety of Echinacea-based medicines. However, the majority of drugs present in the Russian market are extremely heterogeneous and not standardized. Therefore, clinical studies of efficacy and safety of particular drugs are necessary.