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