Researchers Warn Against Tamiflu for Children

British researchers report that there is no definitive evidence that Tamiflu prevents complications from the flu. In fact, they believe the medicines may even do more harm than good. Therefore, they suggest that children should not be routinely treated with flu drugs such as Tamiflu.

Governments Are Stockpiling Flu Drugs

Hundreds of thousand of doses of Tamiflu have been passed out to people, half of which are children. It seems that in order to deal with the H1N1 swine flu pandemic governments around the world have built up stock of GlaxoSmithKline’s Relenza and Roche’s Tamiflu.

A Call for Reconsideration

Because of an analysis of clinical data from previous seasonal flu outbreaks, researchers are calling for a reconsideration of the use of antivirals for those that are 12 years of age and under. Apparently this analysis showed minimum benefits and what could be harmful side effects. It was also found by the researchers that 13 people needed to be treated to prevent one additional case. This means that antivirals only reduce transmission by a minute eight percent.

Dr. Matthew Thompson from the University of Oxford reported that although antivirals shortened the duration of the flu in children by about a day, they did not lower asthma flare-ups or the chances that the children would need antibiotics. In fact Tamiflu was linked to a greater chance of vomiting. This can be a serious side effect in children because it can result in dehydration.

Researcher’s Professional Opinion

Thompson said the analysis was based on a review of seven clinical studies focused on the use of Tamiflu and Relenza in seasonal flu outbreaks in 2,629 children between age one and 12. He points out that there is no reason to think that it would be any different with the relatively mild outbreak of the swine flu.

“The strategy of giving out this treatment in a mild infection is inappropriate,” said Dr. Carl Heneghan, also an Oxford researcher.

The British Medical Journal wrote, “While morbidity and mortality in the current pandemic remain low, a more conservative strategy might be considered prudent, given the limited data, side effects such as vomiting, and the potential for developing resistant strains of influenza.”

In Summary

It seems that all the research studies do not provide sufficient evidence to warrant administering antiviral medications for seasonal or swine flu outbreaks. The apparent lack of positive results from its administration and the alarming side effect of vomiting do not appear to be motivating factors to cause masses of people to take part in this kind of treatment.

Governments around the globe seem to have had different opinions and therefore have accumulated large reserves of these medications. The driving factor that influenced their decisions to gather an inventory of the antivirals is unknown.

The researchers have issued a call for reconsideration that should be taken quite seriously. Hopefully, those that are in positions of authority that control the inventory of these medications as well as those that would administer such medications will take heed.