Human viral influenza is a highly contagious, acute and febrile respiratory disease which is rooted in the distant past and has long been recognized as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in healthy adult populations and children. Influenza in children has been poorly documented because of its non-specific symptoms like fever, chills, sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, myalgia, and malaise, the large variety of other circulating viruses (often including a predominance of respiratory syncytial virus, also rhinovirus, parafluenza viruses, and adenovirus), the lack of a readily accessible diagnostic test and the perception that it is a benign illness in childhood. Nonetheless, it is recognized that school age children are the main source of the introduction of influenza into the household.
Depending on age, annual attack rates in children are 1.5- to 3.0-fold higher than in adults. During epidemic years, attack rates often exceed 40% in preschool children and 30% in school age children. Influenza may result in substantial morbidity even in healthy children. For children under 5 years of age, the rate of hospitalization for acute respiratory tract disease has been reported as 42.7 in 100,000. However, children with chronic medical conditions (asthma, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, immunosuppression, cancer, renal disease, haemoglobinopathies, and neurological disease) and those born prematurely are 4 to 21 times more likely to be hospitalized with respiratory complications than healthy children during influenza predominant seasons.
Children can also be at risk of acquiring influenza-related complications like acute otitis media, febrile convulsions, sinusitis, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, croup, pneumonia (viral and bacterial) and Reye's syndrome.
Current treatment options of influenza in children have limitations. The M2 inhibitors, amantadine and rimantadine, have limited clinical use in pediatrics because of the rapid development of viral resistance, lack of activity against influenza B and only moderate clinical benefit without documented effects on complications.
Oseltamivir (Antiflu), a neuraminidase inhibitor has proven to be safe and effective for the prevention or treatment of all known influenza subtypes of influenza A and B virus, reducing the severity and duration of symptoms, use of paracetamol, the complications arising from influenza infection (otitis media, pneumonia, etc), hospitalization and antibiotic use pertaining to these complications, extent and quantity of viral shedding, and mortality.
Antiflu is indicated for the treatment of uncomplicated acute illness due to influenza infection in patients 1 year and older who have been symptomatic for no more than 2 days and is indicated for the prophylaxis of influenza in patients 1 year and older.
The recommended oral dose of Antiflu Suspension is as follows:
Body Weight
(kg) |
Body Weight
(lbs) |
Per Dose Recom-mendation (mg) |
Recommended Volumes for Treatment (5 Day Regimen)-
Twice Daily |
Recommended Volumes for Prophylaxis (10 Day Regimen)-Once Daily |
</=15 kg |
</=33 lbs |
30 mg |
2.5 mL (1/2 tsp) |
2.5 mL (1/2 tsp) |
>15 kg - 23 kg |
>33 lbs – 51 lbs |
45 mg |
3.8 mL (3/4 tsp) |
3.8 mL (3/4 tsp) |
>23 kg - 40 kg |
>51 lbs - 88 lbs |
60 mg |
5.0 mL (1 tsp) |
5.0 mL (1 tsp) |
>40 kg |
>88 lbs |
75 mg |
6.2 mL (1 1/4 tsp) |
6.2 mL (1 1/4 tsp) |
Antiflu may be taken with or without food.
Antiflu Suspension is a bottle of 75 ml where each ml (on reconstitution) contains 12 mg Oseltamivir. Dosage measuring devices like a calibrated cup and an oral syringe is provided with the pack.
Dec 2009
