WHO Recommends Tamiflu in 'severe' Swine Flu Treatment

The UN health agency on Wednesday stood by its advice on swine flu treatment with the antiviral drug Tamiflu in severe and progressive infections.

The UN health agency on Wednesday stood by its advice on swine flu treatment with the antiviral drug Tamiflu in "severe and progressive" infections, despite a study which warned against use by children.

"WHO continues to recommend use of antivirals as treatment for people who are severely ill or are at risk of other health complications," the World Health Organisation said in a response to questions about the recent study.

Swine Flu - Treatment
Antiviral drugs are at the core of swine flu treatment. Palliative care may also be required to control the fever and maintain fluid balance.

However, it also stressed that the antiviral, made by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, should not be taken by those showing just mild flu-like symptoms.

The study published Monday in the British Medical Journal said that children with seasonal flu should not be given Tamiflu because harmful side effects may outweigh relatively meagre benefits.

The study did not cover the current outbreak of swine flu.

Swine Flu Risk Calculator
Find out the risks for contracting swine flu and take the necessary precautionary steps. Swine flu caused a pandemic in 2009 with several deaths reported worldwide.

But it suggested that antivirals may not significantly reduce the length of illness or prevent complications in children infected with the new A(H1N1) virus, the researchers said.

The WHO said it was "aware" of the study but stressed that it was on seasonal flu and not A(H1N1).

Can Tamiflu Tackle Swine Flu?
Experts would be consulted on the way anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu are used to tackle the swine flu pandemic, and possible drug resistance, said the World Health Organization.

The organisation said Tuesday that some 1,462 people around the world had died from the swine flu virus since it first emerged in April.

Source-AFP
LIN

Study Advises Not to Give Tamiflu for Children With Seasonal Flu
Children with seasonal flu should not be given antivirals such as Tamiflu because harmful side effects outweigh relatively meager benefits, according to a study released on Monday.