What About Tamiflu, or other antiviral medications???
Most healthy persons who develop an illness consistent with influenza, or persons who appear to be recovering from influenza, do not need antiviral medications for treatment. However, persons presenting with suspected influenza and more severe symptoms such as evidence of lower respiratory tract infection or clinical deterioration should receive prompt empiric antiviral therapy, regardless of previous health or age.
Early preventative treatment with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) should be considered for persons with suspected or confirmed influenza who are at higher risk for complications including:
Children younger than 2 years old;
Persons aged 65 years or older
Pregnant women
Persons of any age with certain chronic medical or immunosuppressive conditions
Persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy.
Treatment, when indicated, should be initiated as early as possible because studies show that treatment initiated early (i.e., within 48 hours of illness onset) is more likely to provide benefit.
