Is Tamiflu Safe to Treat Flu in Toddlers?
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), influenza infects 9 million to 45 million people each year, with a range of symptoms including fever, cough, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, and runny nose. nose.
Tamiflu or oseltamivir is an oral antiviral drug that is popularly used to treat or prevent flu (influenza). Despite its popularity, the use of Tamiflu in children is still a matter of controversy.
Reporting from verywellhealth.com, it is not uncommon for parents to claim that tamiflu is not always effective, some reports even suggest that overuse can lead to the development of influenza that is resistant to treatment.
Some reports even say Tamiflu causes hallucinations and suicidal thoughts in children. Then what is the safe dose of tamiflu for your little one?
This time Popmama.com will discuss more below!
1. Tamiflu has been approved to treat influenza in children from 2 weeks of age
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Tamiflu is one of four antiviral drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States for the treatment and prevention of influenza.
Tamiflu has been FDA approved specifically to treat influenza in children 2 weeks of age or older, and to prevent flu in children 1 year of age or older.
According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are a number of benefits of using this antiviral. The main thing is the prevention of flu.
“Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is an antiviral drug that reduces the multiplication of the flu virus, as long as it is taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms,” said Daisy Dodd, a pediatric infectious disease doctor at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California.
He explained that the flu virus had to multiply in human cells to survive. However, Tamiflu works by blocking the replication of this virus, reducing the duration of illness by about 24 hours.
Early treatment with Tamiflu can lead to milder illness, which reduces the number of flu-related hospitalizations and deaths. However, it is important to note that Tamiflu does not actually cure influenza.
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2. Some examples of patients who may benefit from Tamiflu
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Tamiflu is recommended for patients with severe cases of influenza, as well as patients who are considered to be at high risk of developing flu complications. Reporting from Parents.com, Rhonda Patt, MD, a pediatrician at the Pediatric Pediatric Clinic, gave several examples of patients who might benefit from Tamiflu, such as:
- Children under 2 years, who have a higher risk of developing potentially life-threatening complications such as pneumonia and dehydration
- Adults over 65 years
- Patients who have chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, or sickle cell anemia
- Pregnant or woman who has recently given birth
- Patients taking medications that can suppress the immune system
Dr. Daisy Dodd also added that some parents also use Tamiflu if family members want a faster recovery. For example, if Mama or Papa can’t work when the child is sick, they need Tamiflu to speed up their recovery.
3. Apart from preventing the flu, Tamiflu also has other benefits that have been identified
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Reporting from, verywellhealth.com, antiviral drugs have a rate of 70 percent to 90 percent effective in preventing flu, so it is important to prevent flu in children who are at high risk of complications within 48 hours of exposure to the virus.
Children are considered to be at high risk for flu complications such as pneumonia and respiratory failure if they are under 5 years of age and / or have underlying health conditions such as asthma, lung disease, diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, kidney or liver problems, blood disorders, cancer, immunodeficiency, or cerebral palsy.
It is also a source of prevention for exposed children who cannot get a flu shot, or such as children who have had an allergic reaction to the vaccine.
Other Tamiflu benefits identified by the CDC include:
Reducing the duration and severity of symptoms: Using antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu within 48 hours of starting symptoms can reduce the length of time flu symptoms last, as well as how bad they are.
Reduced risk of complications: Antiviral medications can reduce the risk of complications that can occur from the flu, including pneumonia, ear infections, hospitalization, and respiratory failure.
Shorter hospital stay: When a child has to be admitted to the hospital with the flu, early antiviral treatment can shorten his stay and help prevent respiratory failure or death. Even if your child has been through symptoms for 48 hours, antiviral medications can still help.
Effective for babies: Although it is not FDA approved, the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend using Tamiflu to treat babies under 14 days of age with flu and to prevent flu in babies 3 months to 1 year old. Because from this age children have a very high risk of flu complications
4. Side effects of tamiflu for children
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Reporting from verywellhealth.com, parents often combine price with potential benefits, and fear that a drug like Tamiflu might cause more symptoms than relieve it. For the most part, this is simply not true.
According to the FDA, the two most common side effects are nausea and vomiting, which are usually less severe and occur within two days of starting treatment. Taking Tamiflu with food can usually reduce the risk of this side effect.
Other side effects may include mild stomach pain, nosebleeds, headaches, and fatigue. More serious side effects have also been reported.
Most reports from Japan in 2005 and 2006 indicate that Tamiflu increases the risk of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as delirium and hallucinations, and can cause thoughts of self-harm or suicide in adolescents.
However, to date no similar incidents have been reported, and further studies have not found an increased risk of neuropsychiatric effects in Tamiflu users.
However, updated product labels now include suggestions that hallucinations, self-harm, abnormal behavior, and suicidal thoughts, although very rarely, are signs that these side effects are possible.
5. Giving appropriate tamiflu to be safe and effective for treating children’s flu
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For it to work effectively, Tamiflu must be taken within 48 hours of the onset of the disease. Influenza can be determined by a rapid test or examination from a doctor, who may decide to prescribe Tamiflu depending on the child’s risk factors.
The CDC says that pediatricians can also treat “suspected influenza” with Tamiflu if it benefits the patient. For example, a doctor might give Tamiflu to a child who is at high risk of being exposed to the virus through a friend or sibling.
But keep in mind, Tamiflu is not an over the counter drug. Mama can only get it by prescription. It is available in liquid or pill form, and is usually prescribed for five days at a time.
Then, the doctor will tell you about the right dose of Tamiflu for the child, because the dose depends on the child’s body condition such as body weight and age.
Well, that’s information about Tamiflu’s safety for your little one. If your child is taking Tamiflu, you should also encourage other medications to fight the flu, such as rest, adequate hydration, and possibly fever-reducing drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to treat fever or discomfort.
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