Ribavirin aerosol treatment of influenza B virus infection
H. W. McClung, V. Knight, B. E. Gilbert, S. Z. Wilson, J. M. Quarles and G. W. Divine
In a randomized, controlled study, ribavirin small-particle aerosol was
found to be effective in the treatment of influenza B virus infection in a
group of college students. Eleven treated patients experienced
significantly more rapid defervescence, disappearance of systemic illness,
and reduction of virus shedding in nasal secretions than ten control
patients treated with a saline aerosol. Antibody response to infection was
similar in both groups. The treatment was well tolerated, and hematologic
and clinical chemical tests demonstrated no toxicity. The estimated dose of
ribavirin aerosol retained was about 2 g in 39 hours of treatment during
the first 60 hours in the hospital.
