So what is ribavirin? Ribavirin is commonly known as “viral azole”, ribavirin is a synthetic nucleoside antiviral drug. In vitro cell culture tests have shown that ribavirin has a selective inhibitory effect on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Ribavirin is a precursor drug that interferes with the metabolism of RNA required for viral replication when microbial genetic carriers resemble nucleotides of purine RNA. Exactly how it affects viral replication is unknown. It is licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only for use in conjunction with long-acting interferon for the treatment of hepatitis C, human respiratory fusion virus (RSV), and certain hemorrhagic fevers (WHO). Ribavirin was synthesized in 1970 by Joseph T. Witkowski of ICN Pharmaceuticals. The FDA clearly states that ribavirin is not suitable for the treatment of influenza and strictly defines the indications, while the misuse of ribavirin for the treatment of various viral infections is very common in China . Ribavirin is widely used in the prevention and treatment of viral diseases. Commonly used dosage forms include injection, tablet, oral liquid, aerosol and so on. Indications of ribavirin: Used for the prevention and treatment of influenza, parainfluenza, hepatitis A, B, C, measles, mumps, chickenpox, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, viral keratitis, herpetic stomatitis, pediatric adenoviral pneumonia, and may have anti-tumor effects.