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November 2006
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Tamiflu warnings: What parents need to know
CR's Take

Consult your doctor--but don't stop the drug on your own--if you notice behavior changes in children taking Tamiflu for the flu. The flu vaccine is recommended for children over 6 months of age and adult family members.


With nearly 100 overseas reports linking use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) to self-injury and delirium--in most cases among pediatric patients--the Food and Drug Administration has said that children taking the flu drug should be closely monitored for abnormal behavior. Package inserts for Tamiflu, which is approved to treat children 12 months of age and up, have also been revised to include the precaution.

But what does that news really mean for parents? For starters, if your child has already begun the five-day course of Tamiflu, you shouldn't stop the drug without consulting your doctor. Whether the drug is actually responsible for abnormal behavior still isn't clear. Severe instances of the flu may also cause delirium and other complications, and in that case, your child would need Tamiflu to continue fending off the virus. Tell your pediatrician about any signs of strange behavior instead of trying to solve the problem on your own. Otherwise, our medical consultants say that parents may still consider Tamiflu as a flu-fighting option, since reports of those adverse reactions are relatively rare, considering the large amounts of the drug used worldwide. Still, antivirals like Tamiflu should only be used for situations where the benefits of drug treatment clearly outweigh the risks.


FLU VACCINE SAFE FOR CHILDREN

A focus on prevention rather than treatment is still the best bet. Studies have found the flu vaccine to be safe in children as young as 6 months of age (see Flu Shot Safe for Young Children). Make sure you and other members of your family have been vaccinated as well to avoid transmitting the bug. People allergic to eggs should not be vaccinated, since the virus is grown in eggs.

Ideally, you should be vaccinated by October or November, since flu cases typically peak between December and March. But flu season can run right up until May, so getting the shot later in the season will offer some protection.