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Children may shed influenza virus longer than adults and are a main source of spread to household contacts. To examine the effect of antiviral treatment in children, researchers performed a meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials of neuraminidase inhibitors for outpatient treatment of seasonal influenza and postexposure prophylaxis in children aged 12 years or younger.
Two trials evaluated outpatient treatment with oseltamivir and two with zanamivir within 36 or 48 hours of onset of influenza-like symptoms. In a total of 1766 children (1243 with confirmed and 523 with suspected influenza), treatment reduced median time to symptom resolution, return to normal activities, or both by 0.5 to 1.5 days; reductions were statistically si…