Research casts doubt on the policy of giving antiviral drugs to children for swine flu

A report  in the British Medical Journal shows neuraminidase inhibitors Tamiflu ( oseltamivir phosphate) and Relenza (zanamivir) rarely prevent complications in children with seasonal flu, yet carry side effects. Although they did not test this in the current swine flu pandemic, the authors say these drugs are unlikely to help children who catch the H1N1 virus. The government has stuck by its policy of offering them to anyone infected, noted a report from the UK public broadcaster, the BBC.

Matthew Thompson senior clinical scientist and one of the study's authors, said: 'There are side effects with these medications''

The UK Department of Health said a "safety-first approach" of offering antivirals to everyone remained a sensible and responsible way forward, but promised to keep the policy under review. Antivirals are the mainstay of treatment at the moment until a vaccine becomes available, which is expected in September.
The drugs are designed to ensure that symptoms are mild and reduce the chance of an infected person giving the illness to someone else. The UK has moved beyond the stage of containing swine flu into the "treatment phase", which means that Tamiflu is only being offered to people who have swine flu and not usually to their contacts.