For severely ill patients, Tamiflu can work

[AlaskaDenise]

Tamiflu, one of two antiviral drugs that work well against H1N1 swine flu, can help prevent deaths from seasonal flu in severely ill patients who had chronic underlying health problems.

Researchers from China studied 760 older severely ill patients suffering from flu along with already other health problems. Half of them were given Tamiflu and half of them were not.

The study found that Tamiflu cut the rate of death by 37 percent suggesting that the drug can help save the lives of seriously ill flu patients.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends that the very old and people with chronic medical conditions should be treated with antiviral drugs either Tamiflu or Relenza when they have flu-like symptoms.

Health officials caution against using either drug in otherwise healthy people who have moderate or mild flu symptoms because of the fear of resistance.

Influenza viruses change very quickly to put up a strong defense against antiviral drugs.

Last year the seasonal H1N1 virus developed strong resistance to Tamiflu while two older flu drugs, amantadine and rimantadine, now have very little effect against influenza viruses.

http://www.thelatestnews.in/for-severely-ill-patients-tamiflu-can-work/18995.html

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: For severely ill patients, Tamiflu can work

...flu in severely ill patients who had chronic underlying health problems.

I dont know if they mean previously severely ill or severely ill from H1N1. I'm surprised to see the 37% rate if it's a person who already is severely ill from H1N1.

.

 

[rikkitikkitavi]

Re: For severely ill patients, Tamiflu can work

Researchers from China studied 760 older severely ill patients suffering from flu along with already other health problems. Half of them were given Tamiflu and half of them were not.

I'm surprised a study like this was allowed in the first place. It seems deeply ethically flawed - to deprive half the cases of a potentially life-saving remedy! - and likely wouldn't be approved by any IRB in the States.