Ribavirin aerosol treatment of influenza B virus infection.

In a randomized, controlled study, ribavirin small particle aerosol was found to be effective in the treatment of influenza B virus infection in a group of college students. Eleven treated patients experienced significantly more rapid defervescence, disappearance of systemic illness, and reduction of virus shedding in nasal secretions than 10 control patients treated with a saline aerosol. Antibody response to infection was similar in both groups. The treatment was well tolerated and hematologic and clinical chemical tests revealed no toxicity. The estimated dose of ribavirin aerosol retained was about 2 g in 35.5 hr of treatment during the first 60 hr in the hospital.