Tamiflu in the treatment of Influenza virus

Each year millions of people all over the world suffer from flu infection called influenza.

Influenza is very contagious infection which easily spreads from one person to another though the direct contact or sneezing and coughs. Influenza is caused by the virus called flu which affect nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, tonsils and lungs. In most cases it is a mild disease, however in some categories of people may influenza may have severe complications and can be even life-threatening.

The symptoms of influenza are similar to common common cold. However, the symptoms of common cold are milder and and pass away much faster than influenza virus. The symptoms of influenza usually occur in 1-4 days after contamination. A patient can spread influenza virus even before the first signs of the infection occur.

The most common symptoms of influenza include the following:

• Fever
• Fatique
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Rhinorrhea
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Dry cough

Along with these symptoms, influenza may cause stomach disturbances especially in children. These symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

The most patients with influenza treat their infection by resting in bed, drinking hot tea with lemon and taking medicines like NSAID's (asiprin, acetaminophen) which helps to relieve the symptoms of flu infections. In certain cases antiviral drug may be necessary. These medicines include: Tamiflu, Relenza, Flumadine and Symmetrel. Among these medications Tamiflu is one of the most prescribed. The active ingredient of Tamiflu is Oseltamivir.

Oseltamivir suppresses and decreases the spread of influenza A and B viruses, the viruses responsible for the flu. It does this by blocking the action of neuraminidase, an enzyme produced by the viruses that enables the viruses to spread from infected cells to healthy cells. By preventing the spread of virus from cell to cell, the symptoms and duration of influenza infection are reduced. On average, oseltamivir reduces the duration of symptoms by one and a half days if treatment is started within forty-eight hours of the beginning of symptoms.

Tamiflu is used for the treatment of uncomplicated infections with the influenza viruses, including H1N1, in adults and children (one year and older) within two days of the beginning of symptoms. It also is approved for emergency use in children less than 1 year old. Oseltamivir can be used for preventing the flu in healthy individuals, but it is not a substitute for flu vaccine. The most frequent side effects of oseltamivir are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bronchitis, abdominal pain, headache and dizziness. Administering oseltamivir after meals helps reduce nausea. Other reported adverse events include allergic reactions, skin reactions, seizures, behavioral disturbances, and aggravation of diabetes.

Oseltamivir potentially may interfere with the action of the live attenuated flu vaccine that is given by injection because oseltamivir prevents viral replication. Therefore, live attenuated flu vaccine should not be administered within two weeks before or 48 hours after administration of oseltamivir.