In the next three years, the Central Pediatric Hospital will collaborate with the Japan International Medical Center to research the use of Immunoglobulin for treating influenza caused by the H5N1 virus and other strains of influenza.
On the afternoon of April 25th, an online seminar via video conference about the treatment of avian influenza in humans was held between the Central Pediatric Hospital and the Japan International Medical Center. Experts discussed the application of Immunoglobulin for individuals suffering from this illness.
Dr. Nguyen Thanh Liêm, the hospital director, stated that Immunoglobulin is a protein in the human body that has the ability to combat viruses. In Japan, this substance has been used to treat many severe infections with very positive results. Therefore, experts are considering applying it in the treatment of various forms of influenza, especially Influenza A, to reduce the mortality rate for patients. The medication will be administered in high doses intravenously.
According to Dr. Liêm, in the face of the threat of a flu pandemic, it is essential to explore new medications, as the currently available antiviral drugs for influenza have not yielded clear results. In addition to researching the use of Immunoglobulin, Vietnam will also participate in trials to double the dose of Tamiflu for patients with Influenza A. Dr. Liêm noted that there are two possible reasons for the low effectiveness of Tamiflu: patients receiving the medication too late or the dosage not being strong enough.
