Gli antivirali nella terapia antinfluenzale

There is no doubt that prevention is the most effective mesasure to contain the pandemic influenza, but no anti H5N1 vaccine will be ready before the month of April 2006. In the present stage, certain specific antiviral drugs operating against the influenza A virus, such as amantadine chlorhydrate, rimantadine, oseltamivir phosphate and zanamivir. However, the effectiveness of such antivirals is not yet satisfactory and there are problems regarding their administration. Nonetheless, their usefulness should be evaluated in terms of relationship between their costs and benefits, in the light of a potential future pandemic diffusion.