Research has revealed that Tamiflu – the drug prescribed to fight swine flu give over 50 per cent of children adverse side effects including nausea and nightmares.
Approximately 150,000 people experience flu symptoms were prescribed the drug last week.
A study was taken of children in three schools in London and one in the South West, which revealed 51-53 per cent of those taking the drug were experiencing at least one side effect.
The British Medical Association’s leading expert on swine flu, Peter Holden, warned that Tamiflu could be being misused and over-prescribed as some people are just exhibiting mild flu symptoms. “The National Pandemic Flu Service has been a great success, and was needed to take the pressure off GPs,” he said. “But the threshold for getting Tamiflu should be quite high.
“For patients who are not in the high-risk groups — such as pregnant women, people with bad asthma or with suppressed immune systems — this virus typically causes mild symptoms and does not require a course of Tamiflu. Patients in the at-risk groups should be referred to their GP, who will use their clinical judgment.”
One hundred and three children were part of the London study – 85 of whom only received it as a precautionary measure after a classmate received a positive diagnosis. Of that group, 45 children suffered from at least one side-effect, with nausea being the most common.
In Japan, health officials are reluctant to prescribe Tamiflu to teenagers, citing it to ignite an increase in “neuropsychiatric events”.
However the Department of Health and the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory products Agency responded by saying the drug was safe to use and the benefits far outweighed any potential side effects.
