Efficacy and safety of oseltamivir treatment in children with influenza H1N1

Abstract

Objective To analyze the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir in children with influenza H1N1. Methods The medical records of patients who were hospitalized and treated with oseltamivir in Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University from Mar. 2009 to Mar. 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. They were divided into two groups according to the age: children group (≤14 years) and adults group (18-60 years). The duration of fever, length of stay, efficacy and adverse drug reactions were analyzed. Results A total of 349 patients were enrolled into the analysis. There were 159 cases in the children group which comprised 87 male and 72 female, aged from 10 months to 14 years with average age of (7±4) years, including 18 severe cases (11.3%). There were 190 cases in the adults group which comprised 117 male and 73 female, aged from 18 to 60 years with average age of (32±12) years, including 19 severe cases (10.0%). The differences in duration of fever and the length of stay between mild patients of the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The duration of fever and the length of stay were shorter in severe patients of children group than in severe patients of adults group [(2.3±1.3)d vs. (5.2±5.3)d, (6.8±4.4)d vs. (12.7±8.1)d, both P 0.05). There was no significant difference in incidence of adverse events between the two groups [5.0% (8/159) vs. 3.7% (7/190), χ2=0.382, P>0.05]. Conclusion Oseltamivir is effective in the children with influenza H1N1 and it is safe with a low incidence of adverse reactions. Key words: Oseltamivir; Influenza, human; Child; Safety