Geneva: The UN health agency on Wednesday stood by
its advice on swine flu treatment with the antiviral drug
Tamiflu in "severe and progressive" infections, despite a
study which warned against use by children.
"WHO continues to recommend use of antivirals as
treatment for people who are severely ill or are at risk of
other health complications," the World Health Organisation
said in a response to questions about the recent study.
However, it also stressed that the antiviral, made by
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, should not be taken by those
showing just mild flu-like symptoms.
The study published Monday in the British Medical Journal
said that children with seasonal flu should not be given
Tamiflu because harmful side effects may outweigh relatively
meagre benefits.
The study did not cover the current outbreak of swine
flu.
But it suggested that antivirals may not significantly
reduce the length of illness or prevent complications in
children infected with the new A(H1N1) virus, the researchers
said.
The WHO said it was "aware" of the study but stressed
that it was on seasonal flu and not A(H1N1).
The organisation said yesterday that some 1,462 people
around the world had died from the swine flu virus since it
first emerged in April.
Bureau Report