Less marked symptoms, fewer complications. The antiviral Tamiflu reduces the duration of the flu by one day according to an independent meta-analysis.
One less day with the flu. The antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu) reduces the duration and intensity of flu symptoms. This is the conclusion of an independent meta-analysis published in the journal The Lancet.
Shorter symptoms
Drs Arnold Monto, Professor of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan (USA) and Stuart Pocock, Professor of Medical Statistics at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (UK) have reviewed nine clinical trials provided by the Roche laboratory. The 4,300 participants, recruited between 1997 and 2001, took 75 mg of Tamiflu or a placebo during flu-like illness.
The influenza medication works against both the virus and the symptoms of the flu. With a placebo, patients are sick 123 hours on average (5 days). On Tamiflu, the duration is reduced by about a day (98 hours). Especially the treated patients suffer from fewer complications and have less need to be hospitalized. The risk of respiratory tract infections is reduced by 44% compared to placebo, that of hospital admissions by 63%. An argument for the use of the antiviral in the most fragile patients, and at risk of complications.
No more nausea
Treatment with oseltamivir does not increase neurological or psychological problems. On the other hand, it increases the risk of nausea and vomiting by 3.7% and 4.7%.
“Since the benefits are only seen in patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza, but the risk of side effects is increased in all patients, a rapid diagnostic test is advised before administering oseltamivir. routinely, ”concluded Heath Kelly of the Australian National University in Canberra and Benjamin Cowling of the University of Hong Kong in a commentary associated with the study. “In the event of a pandemic or severe epidemic, oseltamivir can be used for prevention when there is a high probability that an influenza-like illness is caused by an infection with the influenza virus, and when infection is at risk. to be serious. “
.
