Leading Russian scientists and clinicians included Triazavirin, the antiviral drug, in the interim “Drug treatment for acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) in outpatient practices during the COVID-19 epidemic” guidelines. The guidelines on ARVI drug treatment have been posted on the website of the Ministry of Health of Russia and sent to Russian regions for reference of outpatient service doctors who deal with outpatients showing signs of ARVI.

Etiotropic pharmaceutical treatment for ARVI was proven only for one pathogen, the influenza virus. WHO's influenza treatment recommendation is to use etiotropic chemotherapeutic agents that block virus replication, that is have a direct antiviral effect. In the Russian Federation, available direct antiviral drugs include Triazavirin, a synthetic analogue of guanine nucleoside, viral RNA synthesis (INN: riamilovir).

The benefits of timely administration of the antiviral therapy are a lower risk of complications and a shorter period of fever and other symptoms, which was clinically proven. Also, the antiviral therapy is recommended even in case of late medical-help seeking by patients with severe or complicated forms of influenza.

Acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) is an acute infectious condition of the respiratory tract appearing in the form of upper airway inflammation and ending up in spontaneous recovery most of the time. Typically, ARVI shows catarrhal symptoms (runny nose, cough, sore throat, etc.), signs of general intoxication and low-fever or (less often) fever temperature.