to tamiflu or not to tamiflu

[Anonymous]

3 kids - 6, 5 and 1.5. All had flu shot in September. Were exposed to the flu by my parents this past weekend. 1 year old has stuffy nose.
I'd have to take them in to get the flu test in order to get Tamiflu. Worth it? My parents had a mild case, if that matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3 kids - 6, 5 and 1.5. All had flu shot in September. Were exposed to the flu by my parents this past weekend. 1 year old has stuffy nose.
I'd have to take them in to get the flu test in order to get Tamiflu. Worth it? My parents had a mild case, if that matters.

I vote no because Tamiflu tastes terrible and made both my daughter and my best friend's son vomit violently.

[Anonymous]

If they test positive for flu, my vote is yes. My husband and daughter (when in middle school) both have used Tamiflu after being properly vaccinated and still catching the flu. My husband was feeling better within 48 hours and had been the sickest I have ever seen him. Tamiflu made the flu like a bad cold for my daughter. It really helped both of them.

[Anonymous]

Your 1 year old has a stuffy nose and no other symptoms yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your 1 year old has a stuffy nose and no other symptoms yet?

Yes. That's right.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't sound like flu. Even when they do actually test positive the GI side effects make it an unappealing option.

[Anonymous]

I vote no. Unless any of your kids spike a high fever, I would not go to the doctor.

My DS tested positive for flu (had the flu shot), doctor prescribed tamiflu. We were on the fence about it having read about the side effects, but fever was so high we decided to try it. He said it tasted terrible, but he kept the first dose down until an hour later when he ate something and immediately vomited. We decided it wasn't worth it and would just see how the next day went (since you have 48 hours to start it). His fever was almost entirely gone the next day.

[Anonymous]

I would avoid Tamiflu at all costs.
My child had a bad reaction when it was prescribed to her by an urgent care center.
I completely regret giving it to her and not researching the side effects prior to.
She only had a few doses but it made her have terrible night terrors, screaming, and just a completely different child.
If you google Tamiflu reactions, you can read about the bad psychological side effects it has, especially on children!

[Anonymous]

There are risks to Tamiflu, but there are also risks to the flu that each parent needs to consider.

One of my kids had the flu and had night terrors, hallucinations, and he was also a different child for a few weeks. Now that he is a teen, he still remembers the time he caught the flu. I regret not taking him in to get Tamiflu.

[Anonymous]

You don’t get it until you get the flu. I would wait.

[Anonymous]

You'd only have to get one tested to see if the exposure affected you. I would take the 1 year old. However the flu is fever and aches etc. I had a horrible cold and it was very very bad but not the flu and no aches even though I had a fever.

[Anonymous]

No way. Tamiflu is AWFUL.

[Anonymous]

I had the flu a few weeks ago pretty badly. I got Tamiflu in pill form and had no ill effects from taking it. It does seem like I’m in the minority though.

[Anonymous]

There's a new drug, Xofluza, if you can find it, and if anyone tests positive.

DD was negative on a Monday, positive two days later on Wed, pediatrician recommended and she took Xofluza and was back at school and 100% fine on Monday. I was shocked (when I get the flu I am out for 7-10 days! That's either youth, Xofluza, or both.).

I had to call around to find it, Giant and CVS did not have it.

[Anonymous]

Unless someone actually comes down with flu symptoms I would wait to even take them in to get tested. Doctor's office is a great place to pick up the flu if you don't already have it!