Фитотерапия инфекционно-воспалительных заболеваний верхних дыхательных путей в амбулаторной терапевтической и общей врачебной практике

Abstract

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are the most common reason of outpatient visits for internal medicine ambulatory care. As a rule, ARIs are induced by various serotypes of respiratory viruses that cause diseases with very similar clinical symptoms and, thus, it is impossible to make an accurate etiological diagnosis. At the same time, the therapeutic approaches are usually the same and include impact on different pathogenetic components of the inflammation process which, among other things, can be achieved by using herbal medicinal products known for a wide range of effects — immunomodulatory, antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory. The review is focused on the use of herbal medicines for the treatment of infectious & inflammatory upper airway diseases. The evidence-based medicine data have proven the efficacy and safety of phytomedicines, and therefore they can be administered for the treatment of acute rhinosinusitis and tonsillopharyngitis associated with acute viral respiratory tract infections, as well as within the combined therapy of recurrent and chronic diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses. As shown, their use reduces the severity and duration of symptoms in patients with acute rhinosinusitis and tonsillopharyngitis. It is emphasized that herbal medications may have beneficial effects on microbiota composition of the pharynx, decreasing the pharyngeal mucosa contamination with true and opportunistic pathogens KEYWORDS: acute respiratory infections, upper airways, mucociliary clearance, tonsillopharyngitis, rhinosinusitis, phytotherapy. FOR CITATION: Stremoukhov A.A., Zaplatnikov A.L., Vlasova N.L., Smirnova M.A. Phytotherapy of infectious & inflammatory upper airway diseases in outpatient care and general practitioner settings. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2022;6(8):419–426 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587- 6821-2022-6-8-419-426.