A woman spends a lot of energy on carrying a baby, in addition, the immune system weakens during pregnancy so that the female body cannot reject the fetus. All this leads to an increased vulnerability of the expectant mother to numerous viral diseases that can negatively affect the health of the child in the womb. Many modern medicines for the prevention of colds and flu are undesirable to take during the period of bearing a baby, so therapists prescribe oxolin ointment – a “Soviet” remedy that has been tested for decades. But is it as effective as we used to think? The composition and effect of the drug

Oxolinic ointment is a medical preparation, the active component of which is the chemical compound naphthalene-1,2,3,4-tetron, which is complex in structure. The better-known name of this substance – oxolin – gave the name to the popular remedy. The therapeutic effect of the drug is due to the ability of the active substance to block the binding sites of viral particles with the membrane of healthy skin cells and mucous membranes. As a result, the viruses lose their activity, and after a while they die altogether.

Oxolin demonstrates high efficiency against the following pathogens:

the causative agent of influenza;
adenoviruses;
the causative agent of herpes;
pathogens of human papilloma and molluscum contagiosum.
In its pure form, the active ingredient is a whitish powder that dissolves well in liquids and decomposes quickly. That is why the drug is released only in the form of an ointment, the auxiliary (and binding) substances of which are vaseline and vaseline oil.

On pharmacy shelves you can find two options for oxolinic ointment, which differ only in the concentration of the active substance:

0.25% nasal ointment;
3% ointment for external use.
Is the drug effective

In the medical environment, there is still no consensus on the antiviral effectiveness of oxolinic ointment. If the doctors of the “old school” are confident in the benefits of the drug, then modern experts are increasingly questioning the need to prescribe Oxolin, considering it a dummy.

For the first time, the probable inefficiency of oxolinic ointment was announced back in 1998 by Doctor of Medical Sciences Leonid Strachunsky, who argued that any popular drugs that supposedly prevent infectious diseases of a viral nature do not have any real therapeutic effect. A similar position regarding Oxolin and immunomodulatory drugs is currently occupied by a well-known pediatrician E. O. Komarovsky.

But there is also a directly opposite point of view, which is held by many doctors and scientists. According to their observations, the drug acts with average efficiency, reducing the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza during epidemics.

Thus, there really are no randomized clinical trials (involving a control group that receives a placebo) proving the antiviral activity of oxolin ointment. But the therapists prescribing this drug believe that its effectiveness has been confirmed by more than 40 years of practice and positive feedback from grateful patients. Is Oksolin allowed for expectant mothers, including at an early stage

When studying the medical manual for oxolin ointment, an attentive expectant mother may be alerted by several controversial points regarding the use of this antiviral medication during the period of bearing a child. Indications for use

It is important to understand that medicines with different concentrations of the active ingredient have completely different indications. So, 3% oxolin ointment is intended for the treatment of the following skin diseases caused by viral infections:

various types of lichen;
simple herpes;
Dühring’s dermatitis;
warts that are caused by the human papillomavirus;
molluscum contagiosum.
To date, Oxolin is rarely prescribed for the treatment of lichen, as manufacturers have developed more advanced anti-lichen drugs. If, for various reasons, they are not available, oxolinic ointment will help to cope with this viral skin lesion.

Oxolin at a concentration of 0.25% is used to treat and prevent such diseases and conditions of viral origin as:

runny nose (with a cold, SARS);
diseases of the mucous membrane of the eyes (conjunctivitis, keratitis);
herpetic stomatitis;
prevention of influenza and respiratory viral infections.
Important! Oksolin is not able to help in the prevention of infections caused by bacteria (tonsillitis, pneumonia). If the expectant mother is forced to come into contact with patients diagnosed with these diseases, you need to take care of your health, for example, using a gauze bandage.

Contraindications and possible harmful effects

Oxolinic ointment is a fairly safe drug. This is confirmed, among other things, by a short list of restrictions on its use. So, the medication is forbidden to be used by those pregnant women who have:

tendency to allergic reactions;
intolerance to oxolin or other components of the drug.
Oxolinic ointment can increase the manifestations of allergies. This is especially dangerous at the beginning of pregnancy, since the severity of the reaction cannot be predicted, and to stop the symptoms, you will have to resort to strong antihistamines, which can harm the fetus.

When using Oxolin, undesirable effects are observed very rarely. The main side reactions include:

slight burning sensation and discomfort at the site of application;
lacrimation;
dermatitis;
significant secretion of mucous fluid from the nose;
slight blue coloration of the skin.
Most side effects are not dangerous for the woman and the child and do not require discontinuation of the drug.

Important! The use of a drug with a high concentration of the active substance for application to the nasal mucosa can cause or intensify undesirable effects and provoke acute allergic reactions. Instructions for use

Before using oxolinic ointment, especially in early pregnancy, you should consult with your doctor, who will determine the duration, frequency of use and the amount of the drug needed to apply to the skin or mucous membranes. Oxolinic ointment is used to treat skin diseases and acute respiratory viral infections origin. However, the main area of ​​​​use of Oxolin at the present time is the prevention of influenza and colds.

What can replace oxolinic ointment

If a woman in position has intolerance to the components of oxolinic ointments, the attending physician may prescribe another antiviral agent intended for the treatment and prevention of diseases caused by viruses.