Shall I give DS Tamiflu or not????

[Icoulddoitbetter]

Hi all,

Will post here, chat and child health to get the most traffic.

DS who is 15 months has had a raised temp since tue eve, spiked at about 40. We took him to the out of hours doc wed eve who said it was a virus, just give him nurofen / calpol. Since then his temp has gone up and down. He has a cold, runny nose etc, and a cough. He goes through perky then miserable phases, and has not been sleeping well. Today his temp was fine this morning. It was 38.5 at 3pm when he woke from his nap, so I gave him Calpol. It's normal now. Today he has not really had a "miserable" stage since he got up, he's just off his food and still a bit sleepy but he's generally quite happy again. Still very snotty, and has a lovely big viral rash poor mite.

Saw GP at 5pm for a review. He said that DS fits the criteria for swine flu so has given me a Tamiflu perscription. He said there is a good chance it's not SF, but it could be, and today is the last day that Tamiflu would be effective. After this if he gets worse the best they could do would be supportive measures.

The GP has left the decision to me as to whether to give DS the TF or not. There is a good chance TF will make him unwell, and he is objectively looking better, but I really don't know what to do. If it is SF and we decide to wait and see and he suddenly gets ill, we're stuffed re: treatment. If it's not, we may make him sick for 5 days with no reason.

DH is not home yet. Once he's home I'm going to get the pills and then we can make a final decision.

Anyone got experience of giving their dc's TF or taking it themselves? I'm so torn. What do we do???????????????

Oh and he has no underlying health consitions.

I thought it was best taken within 48 hrs max?

If he seems relatively all right, I wouldn't bother.

For it to be at its most effective it has to be taken within 48 hours of the first symptoms, the longer its left the less effective.

I have had tamiflu and tbh it didnt seem to make much difference!

DS seems over the worst. Tamiflu should be taken withing 48 hours any time after this is frankly a waste of time. No idea why he gave it to you! It also has nasty side effects in many patients, abdominal pain is relatively common. If it was me I wouldnt bother. It doesnt even sound like swine flu as there is no mention of a rash in the commonly listed symptoms, but there is often an element of D&V. Its your decision in the end but here is the information the prescribing doctor knows, stating 2 days!!

If he has been ill since Tuesday night, then it is too late for Tamiflu anyway (should be given less than 48 hours after onset of illness). Sounds like he is ok anyway, so I wouldn't worry.

Oh, I just realise: what sneezecakesmum said .