Amantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir for the treatment of influenza
This is an extract from the guidance and may be misleading if read alone. The complete guidance is available at guidance.nice.org.uk/ta168
Important information about this guidance
This guidance replaces 'Flu treatment – zanamivir (review), amantadine and oseltamivir' (NICE technology appraisal 58).
The review and re-appraisal of amantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir for the treatment of influenza has resulted in a change in the guidance. Specifically:
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people with chronic neurological conditions and people with chronic liver disease are now considered 'at risk'
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zanamivir is now recommended as a treatment option for children between the ages of 5 and 12 years in 'at-risk' groups if influenza is circulating and they can start treatment within 36 hours of first symptoms
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oseltamivir and zanamivir are now recommended as treatment options for 'at-risk' people in long-term and residential nursing homes during localised outbreaks (when influenza is not circulating), if there is a high level of certainty that the causative agent is influenza.
This guidance has been prepared in the expectation that vaccination against influenza is undertaken in accordance with national guidelines. Vaccination has been established as the first-line intervention to prevent influenza and its complications, and the use of drugs described in this guidance should not in any way detract from efforts to ensure that all eligible people receive vaccination.
This guidance does not cover the circumstances of a pandemic, impending pandemic, or a widespread epidemic of a new strain of influenza to which there is little or no community resistance.
This guidance was developed using the NICE multiple technology appraisals process: www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/howwework/devnicetech/developing_nice_multiple_technology_appraisals.jsp