Should Your Child Take Tamiflu®?

You may have heard that this year’s flu season is pretty brutal. According to the Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), flu season started two weeks early, and 15 million Americans have already been stricken with the viral illness.

One reason for this brutality may be that, according to the AAMC, this season’s flu vaccine is only about 30-40% effective, compared to the typical 40-60% average. The bottom line is that there’s a good chance that your child will come down with a case of the flu at some point this winter. 

Board-certified pediatrician Dr. Stein at Sima Stein, MD, in San Jose, California, knows that parents hate seeing their children sick and miserable. Here’s what she tells them when they ask about treating their kids with Tamiflu® to reduce the aches, cough, fatigue, chills, and stuffy nose that accompany the flu.

What is Tamiflu?

Tamiflu, the brand name for the drug oseltamivir, is 1 of 4 FDA-approved antiviral medications used to treat flu symptoms and prevent flu complications. Tamiflu is recommended by the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for young children. 

Tamiflu is an antiviral drug that treats the flu but not other viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, or bacterial illnesses. While Tamiflu doesn’t cure the flu, it does help slow the virus's spread in your body. As a result, Tamiflu can shorten symptom duration by about a day and a half.

On average, the flu lasts about a week or two and usually resolves on its own with rest and fluids. During that time, your child can feel pretty lousy, more so than with the common cold. Tamiflu, if taken within 48 hours of contracting the flu, can help reduce the number of days your child feels miserable. 

Who should take Tamiflu?

Most people can take Tamiflu to reduce symptoms with a doctor’s prescription but only if taken within the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. After that time, Tamiflu is less effective.

In addition to shortening the duration of symptoms, Tamiflu can also reduce the risk of complications, including pneumonia, bronchitis, and worsening of symptoms. Kids who have pre-existing conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease, are most at risk of complications, and Tamiflu is recommended for them.

If your child has had the flu for a few days, it may not be worth taking Tamiflu because, in addition to it being less effective, there are potential side effects, which include headaches, nausea, and vomiting. 

Can Tamiflu prevent the flu?

The most effective ways to prevent the flu are to get an annual flu shot, practice good hand hygiene, and avoid sick people, if possible. 

For children with high-risk conditions, Tamiflu can help prevent them from getting the flu if their sibling or parent has it, or from developing complications if they do catch it.

If your child has flu symptoms and you’d like to learn more about Tamiflu, call Dr. Sima Stein's office to schedule an appointment or request one online.