Use of Antivirals
Treatment Efficacy and Effectiveness Studies
Randomized, controlled trials conducted primarily among persons
with mild illness in outpatient settings have demonstrated that
zanamivir or oseltamivir can reduce the duration of uncomplicated
influenza A and B illness by approximately 1 day when administered
within 48 hours of illness onset compared with placebo
(15,16,19–21,139–142). One randomized, controlled trial of oseltamivir
treatment among 408 children aged 1–3 years reported that
when oseltamivir was started within 24 hours of illness onset, the
median time to illness resolution was shortened by 3.5 days compared
with placebo (143). Minimal or no benefit was reported in healthy
children and adults when antiviral treatment was initiated >2 days