According to data from the study, treatment initiated within 24 hours of symptom onset provides clinically meaningful improvements, compared with treatment initiated within 24 to 48 hours.
Tamiflu is indicated for the prevention and treatment of influenza types A and B in patients aged one year and older.
The analysis showed that children treated with Tamiflu within 24 hours of symptom onset had a 34.5% reduction in duration of illness versus placebo, compared to a 19.3% reduction over placebo in the group treated later. Children treated within 24 hours also showed a more pronounced reduction of fever duration versus placebo and were 54.2% less likely to develop an ear infection.
“Children bear a disproportionately high burden of influenza and are at particular risk of flu-related complications,” said Regina Dutkowski, clinical director at Roche, who presented the data. “There is a crucial 48-hour window of opportunity to initiate antiviral therapy, and this analysis further underscores the importance of treating influenza in children at the first sign of symptoms.”