In recent years’ viral respiratory tract infections, especially influenza viruses, have had a major impact on communities worldwide as a result of unavailability of effective treatment or vaccine. Besides the development of drug resistance, emergence of mutant strains of the virus, emergence of a more virulent strain, prohibitive costs of available drugs, time lag between vaccine development, and unavailability of optimal medication would pose really difficult problems, suggests the requirement for alternative natural herbal remedies. Herbs exhibit a diverse array of biological activities and can be effectively harnessed for managing influenza.

The lack of awareness or compliance with guidelines on the use of decongestant/cough medicines in children may causes contraindications. Prolong influenza illness may cause increase in diagnosis of secondary infections or complications, child absenteeism from playgroup, day care or school; parental absenteeism from work; and health care service use including hospitalization, visits to general practitioners or other health care professionals.

Traditional herbal remedies have been gaining more attention in recent years due to accessibility, affordability, their safety, and promising efficacy. Herbal medicines are proven for treating and combating pathogenic infectious diseases like the common cold and influenza. Malbet Syrup is herbal product created with strong rationales for treating uncomplicated influenza in pediatrics. In the initial stage of influenza, Malbet Syrup treatment will be providing a faster clinical recovery, thus avoiding the use of conventional treatment and its associated side effects at the same time due to its clinically proven potent ingredients. The use of OTC medicines such as antipyretics, decongestant and cough medicines is administered to pediatrics to minimize the discomfort of influenza, although they are unlikely to have an impact on the course of the illness and lower patient compliance. The ingredients in this formulation have been proven to aid in reducing fever, cough, sore throat, headache, nasal congestion, body aches and pains, fatigue, helps to restore normal body functions, and overcome rigors.

With the present clinical trial, it is an attempt to provide evidence of potential of herbal syrup is safe and effective to treat uncomplicated influenza in pediatrics. By virtue of the selection of the ingredients, Malbet Syrup may provide very potent tool for controlling an array of uncomplicated influenza.