By Deanna Testa

Since the outbreak of the swine flu, also know as H1N1, appeared in the U.S. parents have been worried about their children contracting the virus and becoming seriously ill. The first known case of the virus was reported in Perote, Veracruz, involving a 5-year-old boy who later fully recovered. The first cases in the States were reported among teenagers from Queens who had traveled to Mexico during spring vacation, they too fully recovered. On May 17th an assistant principal in Queens became the virus’s first American causality in the States, causing a wide spread panic and the closing of numerous New York City schools. Since then there have been 20 more deaths in the States due to the H1N1 virus. Health officials tried to combat the panic by going on record to explain that thousands of people die every year from normal influenza complications, which did very little to calm terrified parents.

Despite the regular flu being more widespread, parents still have to take any symptoms of flu seriously. If your child has an unusually high fever, cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills, extreme fatigue, diarrhea, bluish or gray skin color, extreme irritability and/or vomiting, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

To help lessen the symptoms of the flu, doctors are prescribing the drug Tamiflu, also called oseltamivir. Hoffman-La Roche, a Swiss pharmaceutical company manufactures the drug. As of May 1, 2009, they have 5 million doses stockpiled in addition to the millions more held by the government, so there should be no fear of a shortage. Generally children under the age of one are at high risk for the human influenza virus, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “It is not known whether infants are at higher risk for complications associated with H1N1influenza virus infection compared to older children and adults […] Because infants experience high rates of morbidity and mortality from influenza, infants with H1N1influenza virus infections may benefit from treatment using oseltamivir.”

Tamiflu is not officially licensed for infants, but the Food and Drug Administration has approved it’s use in infants with confirmed H1N1 influenza virus under the EUA, Emergency Use of Authorization of Medical Products Act— as long as the dosages are minimal and only used for a short period of time. The CDC also stressed the following: “Healthcare providers should be aware of the lack of data on safety and dosing when considering oseltamivir use in a seriously ill young infant with confirmed novel (H1N1) influenza virus infection or who has been exposed to a confirmed novel (H1N1) influenza case, and carefully monitor infants for adverse events when oseltamivir is used.” Parents can take some comfort in knowing that their infants and children have a medication in the rare instance that they do contract the H1N1 virus. However, you should always consult with your pediatrician before giving Tamiflu to an infant, here are the proper dosages of oseltamivir for children:

Under 3 months of age: 12mg twice a day for no more than five days.

3-5 months old: 20mg a day for no more than five days.

6-11 months: 25mg a day for no more than five days.

Of course, teaching your child about flu prevention is also key: Regular and frequent handwashing (before meals and after play), a healthy diet, sufficient sleep, and avoiding other children who are exhibiting any symptoms of flu, all go a long way toward fending off the H1N1 Virus.