Doctor world

A new study from England showed that healthy adults tend to survive better during flu season by getting a flu shot than giving antiviral drugs to make them feel better. The study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, August 8, 2009 edition.

The research team led by Dr Jane Burch found that Tamiflu (oseltamivir), a flu drug made by Roche, and Relenza (zanamivir), which is made by GlaxoSmithKline, will relieve symptoms faster no more than a day than no drug at all.

Although the researchers did not compare the benefits of the vaccine with superior antiviral drugs, vaccination is known to have preventive benefits. Some are correct at the time where there is a "match" between vaccine and circulating influenza viruses. Thus, more people are eligible to be vaccinated (which is more suitable choices for healthy adults).

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) UK asked Burch, at the University of York, and his team to review 26 scientific studies to determine the effectiveness of oseltamivir and zanamivir as a treatment for adults in the seasonal flu. NICE is responsible for assessing drugs reimbursed by the state health service. Flu-like symptoms disappear within a half up to one day earlier than those not given drugs.

With results like that, Burch and colleagues wrote that the treatment with the drug seems to be the most appropriate thing for the action. They believe that a better policy for a healthy adult is to extend the recommendation that all healthy adults can get it. In fact, these findings may be relevant to pandemic influenza A (H1N1) is currently happening.



As a result of this work, NICE now recommends using antiviral treatment for influenza in people deemed at risk. This includes people aged 65 or older, and anyone older than 6 months with a serious health condition, such as chronic disease that affects the lungs, heart, liver, or kidney disease, and diabetes or people with suppressed immune systems .




Their main concern is to reduce the risk of complications associated with influenza, such as pneumonia or eksaebarsi of other diseases, although studies have not shown such benefits.

In addition to vaccination, the team from Burch register approach may be more effective than starting treatment an antiviral drug once in a sick person. This includes the people who had the flu, the vaccine began to give the drug immediately and make drugs freely available vaccines. They also suggested that family physicians have rapid diagnostic flu test. Thus, the patient will not be treated with drugs that do not will have an effect if they do not have the flu.