MEDICINES SOLD WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION WITH A PLANT COMPONENT APPLIED AMONG CHILDREN DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The interest in the practical use of herbal substances for medical purposes is growing worldwide. The herbal medicines can be applied as a supplement not only to restore the physiological functions but also to treat specific conditions such as - dyspepsia; hepatic and biliary diseases; prevent and modify cardiovascular diseases; treat infectious diseases. They are among the pharmaceutical products preferred by parents and pediatricians. In January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the spread of the new coronavirus - a situation with a global impact. During the last year, there have been some publications describing the use of Chinese herbal preparations for the prevention and prophylaxis of COVID-19. There is information about the use of pharmaceuticals to treat infectious diseases and fever but real evidence for their impact on the SARS-CoV-2 virus is still insufficient. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to establish how many of the medicines sold without a prescription containing a plant component are used among very young children in Bulgaria and if these phytoproducts can be used to treat pediatric patients with COVID-19.