Q&A: Is it safe to give my child Tamiflu?

February 7th, 2018 / 0 Comments

There’s been a lot of news lately about the dangerous side effects of Tamiflu. Is it safe to give my child Tamiflu?

This is a great question as it is incredibly important for parents and caregivers to understand the risks and benefits of any treatment recommended for their child. The decision to start any medication should involve an understanding of the side effects and risks, balanced with the potential benefit, and parents should always keep an eye on their child for changes after starting any new medication.

Overall, Tamiflu is a very safe medication, and in some instances can be life-saving. Like any medication, it can have side effects, including nausea, vomiting, stomach (abdominal) pain, nosebleeds, headache, and fatigue, however they occur rarely. Influenza can be a very serious illness, and the risks of not treating it can be much greater than the risk of side effects of the medication.

That said, while Tamiflu is a very important treatment for the flu, it is not needed or recommended in every circumstance. To determine if your child should take Tamiflu, I suggest discussing your individual circumstances with your pediatrician.

And remember – always get your flu shot! Prevention is the best treatment!

</p> <section> <h2>See how much you know about the flu by taking this quiz.</h2> </section> <section> <h2>1. The flu mainly causes stomach upset. It is always passed on by being close to someone who has nausea or vomiting.</h2> </section> <section> <h3>2. A flu shot is a treatment to get when you have the flu.</h3> </section> <section> <h3>3. If you get a flu shot, you don’t need to get another shot for 3 to 5 years.</h3> </section> <section> <h3>4. In some cases, the flu vaccine can give you the flu.</h3> </section> <section> <h3>5. How is the flu vaccine given?</h3> </section> <section> <h3>6. The CDC recommends that only people 50 and older get the flu vaccine each fall or winter.</h3> </section> <section> <h3>7. Medicines can help fight the seasonal flu.</h3> </section> <section> <h3>8. If you don’t touch an infected person, you won’t get the flu.</h3> </section> <section> <h3>9. If you are 65 or older, you are at higher risk for complications from the flu.</h3> </section> <section></section> <section></section> <p>