.
.
MORE than half
of children who
take swine flu
drug Tamiflu
suffer terrifying
side-effects such
as nausea,
insomnia and
nightmares,
The U.K. Sun
reports July 31st.
Two studies by the Health
Protection Agency (HPA)
showed a “high proportion”
of Brit schoolkids reported
problems after taking
the drug.
Data was gathered from
children at three schools in
London and one in the South
West who were given Tamiflu
earlier this year after
classmates became infected
with the deadly virus.
The findings will shock
parents and raise questions
over whether the powerful
anti-viral should be given
out so freely.
The government’s chief
medical officer Sir Liam
Donaldson defended the
drug today, saying:
“All drugs do
have side-effects.”
“It is always a case of
deciding the balance between
benefiting a patient from a
treatment and
the side-effects.”
“Most of the side-effects
are relatively minor –
a degree of nausea,
a bit of a tummy upset,
the sort of thing you get
quite often with antibiotics.”
He added:
“If we look at the rate
of admissions to hospital,
it has been the under-fives
who have had a very much
higher rate of hospitalisation.”
.
.
“It isn’t common but
when it does happen,
it can happen amongst the
youngest age groups.”
The most frequently reported
side effect among children
was nausea, followed by stomach
pain or cramps and problems
sleeping.
Gastrointestinal side effects
(nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
stomach pain and cramps)
were reported by 40 per cent
of kids tested.
Almost one in five kids
reported side-effects such
as poor concentration,
inability to think clearly,
problems sleeping,
feeling dazed or confused,
bad dreams or nightmares
and “behaving strangely”.
The data published by the
Government today comes after
the National Pandemic Flu
Service for England launched
last Thursday.
Rather than calling their GP,
people with swine flu are now
being urged to contact a helpline
or receive a diagnosis online.
Some 150,000 people have
received Tamiflu via the
National Pandemic Flu Service.
.
.
.
.