Podcast # 425: Oseltamivir Efficacy in Children

Author: Aaron Lessen, MD

Educational Pearls:

• Recent meta-analysis reviewed efficacy oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in pediatric populations treated for influenza, showing an 18 hour reduction in duration of illness for those with laboratory confirmed influenza
• Those with suspected influenza unsurprisingly had less effect
• Subgroup analysis showed most benefit in those treated within the first 24 hours of symptom onset
• Patients with confirmed influenza treated with oseltamivir had a 34% reduction in risk of otitis media

Editor’s note:  Vomiting was higher in the treatment groups; There were no significantly different outcomes in regards to other endpoints, such as lower respiratory tract infections and hospitalizations

References:

Malosh RE, Martin ET, Heikkinen T, Brooks WA, Whitley RJ, Monto AS. Efficacy and Safety of Oseltamivir in Children: Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Clin Infect Dis. 2018 May 2;66(10):1492-1500. doi: 10.1093/cid/cix1040. PubMed PMID: 29186364.

Summarized by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD