Children with seasonal flu should not be given Tamiflu because harmful side effects may outweigh relatively meagre benefits, according to a study released Monday.
In some children
Tamiflu caused nausea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration and other complications, researchers reported.
The study did not cover the current
outbreak of swine flu, but it suggests 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.
Carl Henegan, a doctor at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and co-author of the study, said the current British practice of giving Tamiflu and Relenza -- the brand names for the antivirals oseltamivir and zanamivir -- for mild illness was "an inappropriate strategy."
"The downside of the harms outweigh the one-day reduction in symptomatic benefits," he said.
The research showed that both antivirals shortened the duration of seasonal flu by 12 to 36 hours.
GMTV's anchor person
Andrew Castle said that his daughter almost died after taking Tamiflu.Mr Castle said that Georgina, the elder of his two daughters, who has asthma, suffered a "respiratory collapse" after being given the medicine at Alleyn's School in Dulwich, south London, which was the centre of one of Britain's first outbreaks in May.
The confrontation came as they discussed a report in the British Medical Journal which suggested that it should not be given to children under 12.
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