ARTICOLI ORIGINALI   

Minerva Pediatrica 2014 October;66(5):363-7

Copyright © 2014 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Pidotimod may prevent recurrent respiratory infections in children

Licari A., De Amici M., Nigrisoli S., Marseglia A., Caimmi S., Artusio L., Marseglia G. L. ✉

Immuno‑Pneumo‑Allergy Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pavia, Fondazione IRCCS San Matteo, Pavia, Italy

AIM: Recurrent respiratory infections (RRI) constitute a social problem for both the pharmaco-economic impact and the burden for the family. Pidotimod is a synthetic immunostimulant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pidotimod on RRI prevention in children.
METHODS: Globally, 100 children (49 males, mean age 4.7±1.2 years) with RRI were enrolled in the study. At baseline, children were randomly assigned to the treatment with pidotimod 400 mg/die or not for two months. Children were visited at baseline, after 30 (T1) and 60 (T2) days, and at follow-up (120 days; T3). Number of children with upper and lower airways symptoms, medications use, school attendance, and paediatric visits for RRI were evaluated.
RESULTS: Pidotimod treatment was able of significantly reducing the number of children with upper and lower airways symptoms, and medications use, increasing school attendance, and reducing pediatric visits for RRI.
CONCLUSION: This study provided the evidence that pidotimod may be able of preventing RRI in children.