Pharmacotherapy of Asthenic Syndrome in Children

Objective of the Review: To provide information on the etiology, clinical manifestations of asthenic syndrome in children and to identify medicines used for its treatment in children's practice, including after the COVID-19 disease.

Key Points. Asthenic syndrome is one of the clinical variants of functional somatic disorders in children and adolescents, it is an urgent problem of modern medicine. Asthenic disorders developing after a coronavirus infection are noted in 23–48% of patients. At present, in our country and abroad, the peculiarities of the course of postcovid syndrome in children and adolescents are being actively studied. For the treatment of asthenic syndrome in children, adaptogens, nootropics, general toning, metabolic and vitamin-mineral agents are used. In pediatric practice, the effectiveness of such drugs as acetylaminoantaric acid, citrulline malate, deanol aceglumate, aminophenyl butyric acid has been proven in asthenia, including in post-infectious conditions.

Conclusion. Asthenia is not a life-threatening condition, but it significantly worsens the quality of life of the child. In most cases, asthenia has a favorable prognosis, which is associated with the ongoing processes of brain maturation and the inclusion of compensation mechanisms due to its high plasticity. But it is possible that periods of decompensation may occur during age-related crises, the frequency of occurrence and persistence of asthenia manifestations in the post-ovoid period are high in children, which requires special attention to them. The choice of an antiasthenic drug, including in convalescents of coronavirus infection, should be determined by the spectrum of drug activity caused by side effects, taking into account the somatic condition of the patient who underwent COVID-19. All drugs should be prescribed, according to the indications and contraindications available to them, in doses appropriate for children.

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