According to recent research, children who have influenza are not getting the appropriate dose of Tamiflu, an antiviral medication that fights the flu.
Researchers report online Nov. 13 in the journal Pediatrics that three out of five children infected with the flu are not administered Tamiflu.
Dr. James Antoon, the principal researcher and an assistant professor of pediatrics and hospital medicine at Monroe Carell Jr., stated, “We found that young children, less than 5 years old and especially those 2 years old and younger, are undertreated for influenza,” according to a press release from Vanderbilt University’s Children’s Hospital.
Antoon said, “We observed that only about 40% of children received antiviral treatment, despite guidelines recommending that all children receive treatment.” The fact that we discovered low rates of antiviral usage across all age categories is noteworthy.
The only oral antiviral drug that is authorized for use in kids younger than five is tamiflu.
In a data pool spanning all 50 states, researchers looked at nine years’ worth of outpatient and ER prescription claims for patients under the age of 18.
Additionally, tamiflu use in children with the flu varies greatly throughout the nation, according to research. Geographically, there was a three- to twenty-fold variation in the rate of Tamifu usage, and variations in flu incidence did not account for this range.
Antoon stated, “These results point to areas for improvement in influenza prevention and treatment, particularly in the most vulnerable children.”
Antoon and his colleagues hypothesized that the reason why kids may not be receiving Tamiflu is because parents are unaware of the national guidelines that urge its usage, are worried about side effects, or don’t think it would work.
Researchers came to the conclusion that these findings underscore the need for improved management of the flu in pediatric patients.
Antoon stated that treating kids in an outpatient setting has been shown to reduce the length of symptoms, the spread of the illness across the home, the need for antibiotics, and influenza-related side effects such as ear infections.
Tamiflu
Tamiflu is an antiviral drug that prevents influenza viruses A and B from acting on your system.
Tamiflu is used to treat influenza-related symptoms in patients who have not had their symptoms for longer than two days. In those who may be exposed to influenza but have not yet developed symptoms, this medication may also be used to prevent influenza. The common cold cannot be treated with Tamiflu.
It is not advisable to take Tamiflu in place of the annual flu vaccination. To help shield you from emerging influenza virus strains every year, the Centers for Disease Control advise being vaccinated against the flu each year.
Patients who have experienced flu symptoms for less than two days can be treated with tamiflu for influenza virus-related symptoms. Those who may be exposed to influenza but have not yet developed symptoms may also receive it as a preventative measure. The common cold cannot be treated with this medication.
Inform your doctor before starting Tamiflu if you have any major medical conditions, such as renal disease, heart disease, lung disease, or any other illness that has not cleared up in the last two weeks, or if you have had a nasal flu shot. Additionally, let your doctor know if you have any conditions that cause brain disorders or edema.
Even if you start to feel better, keep taking Tamiflu for the entire number of days that have been prescribed for you. It’s possible for your symptoms to improve before the illness is fully cured.
Seltamivir users have infrequently experienced unexpected disorientation, delirium, hallucinations, strange conduct, or self-harm. The majority of cases with these symptoms have been among youngsters. It is unknown if these symptoms were specifically brought on by this medication. Anyone using this medication, nevertheless, has to be constantly monitored for any indications of disorientation or strange behavior. If you or the kid taking this medication has any of these symptoms, get in touch with a doctor right away.
If you have an oseltamivir allergy, you should not use Tamiflu.
If a kid is less than two weeks old, do not take Tamiflu to treat their flu symptoms. This medication can be used by infants as young as one year old to avoid flu symptoms.
Inform your physician if you have ever experienced:
- renal illness (or the need for dialysis);
- chronic lung disease or cardiac disease;
- a disease that results in brain enlargement or dysfunction;
- a weakened immune system (resulting from illness or medication usage);
- inherited intolerance to fructose; or
- if you’ve taken the FluMist nasal vaccination within the last two weeks.
It is unknown if this medication will be harmful to a fetus. On the other hand, contracting influenza while pregnant might result in problems that could include stillbirth, low birth weight, premature delivery, or birth abnormalities. If you are pregnant, your doctor will determine if you should take oseltamivir.
To prevent influenza, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise pregnant women to consider getting vaccinated each year. It is not recommended to take oseltamivir in place of the annual flu vaccination.
