Kids, let your parents or grown-ups read this because it contains important news for them as they take care of you.

Tamiflu (oseltamivir), up until now, has only been approved by the FDA, for children over 1 year of age who are infected with the “flu”.  Now, the Food and Drug Administration has expanded its approval of Tamiflu to be used on children as young as one year of age as a preventative (prophylaxis) - so they won’t get the flu if they are exposed to someone who has it.

This approval was based on a study that found that 17% of children in a flu-infected household caught the flu while on “sugar” pills while only 3% of children caught it while on Tamiflu.

Of course, there are side effects and there has been some adverse publicity associating Tamiflu with neuropsychiatric disorders.  How much of this is “hype” and how much is science should be something you should discuss with your doctor or pediatrician.

This might have greater importance in the future if we are faced with a pandemic.  However, the key is not to get a prescription and give it indiscriminately.  That might cause the rise of resistant strains of viruses. 

The best advice at this time is to follow the advice of your local public health leaders.

Source: Kirn TF.  FDA Extends Oseltamivir Approval Down to Age 1.  ACEP News. February, 2006.