[Natural killers and interferon in complicated influenza and other acute respiratory viral diseases in children].

The results of the study on the functional activity of natural killers (NK) and serum interferon in 118 children ranging in age from 3 months to 5 years suffering from influenza and other acute respiratory viral diseases complicated with croup, pneumonia, and obstructive syndrome (66 children with influenza, 21 with parainfluenza, 16 with adenovirus infection, and 15 with respiratory syncytial virus diseases) are presented. The control group consisted of 22 normal children. Decreased NK activity was demonstrated in the acute period of all ARVD but was more marked in adenovirus disease and complications with pneumonia, bronchiolitis, obstructive syndrome. While in hospital, children with low interferon titres developed a new acute viral disease more frequently or their principal disease was complicated with pneumonia. The detection of NK cell inhibition in some patients with ARVD complicated with pneumonia, bronchiolitis and decreased serum interferon levels in these patients are considered as indications for administration of immunotherapy (levamisole, zixorin, cathergen).