Antivirals unlikely to benefit children with swine flu

There is no clear evidence to show that antivirals will prevent complications in children with seasonal flu let alone swine flu.

In a study published on the British Medical Journal website today, research shows that Tamiflu and Relenza, prescribed through the Pandemic Flu Service may shorten the duration of flu in children for but only by a day and a half.

It also shows that the drugs will have little or even no effect on asthma flare ups, increased ear infections or the likelihood of children needing further antibiotics due to the related illnesses and infections from contracting a flu virus.

Concern is also being raised that Tamiflu is linked to an increased risk of vomiting further complicating the health of already ill children.

Children are at high risk from catching seasonal flu epidemics with influenza rates often exceeding 40 per cent in preschool children and 30 per cent in school age children. More complications from flu include further respiratory tract infections like bronchitis, ear infections and asthma flare-ups..

The research lead by Dr Matthew Thompson from the University of Oxford, add that the main way to control flu is through vaccination but often there is not enough time to produce and distribute vaccines in a response to the emerging strains.

Current control strategies last reviewed in 2005  include using antiviral medication such as Tamiflu to prevent further spread of the virus as well as treating infected people.

Dr Thompson and his colleagues believe that a more up to date assessment of the benefits and harms of this treatment is now required in the light of widespread use of these drugs during the current swine flu pandemic.