Comparison of the clinical effectiveness of oseltamivir and zanamivir against influenza virus infection in children.
BACKGROUND
We compared the clinical effectiveness of oseltamivir and zanamivir in children with influenza A (H1N1) virus, influenza A (H3N2) virus, and influenza B virus infections.


METHODS
Total febrile period and the duration of fever after the start of treatment were compared between an oseltamivir-treated group (mean age, 8.9 years; range, 4.0-15.9 years) and a zanamivir-treated group (mean age, 10.0 years; range, 4.0-15.7 years) in the pediatric outpatient clinics of our hospitals. Oseltamivir was used to treat 91 children with influenza A (H3N2) infection and 24 children with influenza A (H1N1) infection. Zanamivir was used to treat 35 children with influenza A (H3N2) infection and 12 children with influenza A (H1N1) infection. Oseltamivir was also used to treat 128 children with influenza B virus infection, and zanamivir was used to treat 59 with influenza B virus infection.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in total febrile period or duration of fever after the start of treatment between the oseltamivir-treated group and the zanamivir-treated group of children with influenza A (H3N2) infection (mean duration of febrile period, 2.40 days vs. 2.39 days; mean duration of fever after the start of treatment, 1.35 days vs. 1.40 days), influenza A (H1N1) (mean duration of febrile period, 2.60 days vs. 2.46 days; mean duration of fever after the start of treatment, 1.79 days vs, 1.54 days), or influenza B (mean duration of febrile period, 2.95 days vs. 2.84 days; mean duration of fever after the start of treatment, 1.86 days vs. 1.67 days). Oseltamivir was more effective against influenza A (H3N2) than against influenza A (H1N1) or influenza B.


CONCLUSIONS
Oseltamivir and zanamivir were equally effective in reducing the febrile period of children with influenza A (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2), and influenza B virus infection.
Sugaya
Norio
N
Department of Pediatrics, Keiyu Hospital, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. sugaya-n@za2.so-net.ne.jp
Tamura
Daisuke
D
Yamazaki
Masahiko
M
Ichikawa
Masataka
M
Kawakami
Chiharu
C
Kawaoka
Yoshihiro
Y
Mitamura
Keiko
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000187:drug effects*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000187:drug effects*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053139:Oseltamivir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D053243:Zanamivir / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D053139:Oseltamivir; D053243:Zanamivir