Different Regimens in Influenza Postexposure Chemoprophylaxis in Children
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2020-12-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Although the vaccination is the preferred method of influenza prevention, there are some
occasions on which a postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) is required. Two neuraminidase inhibitors
(NAIs) may be used in chemoprophylaxis in children: oral oseltamivir, and inhaled zanamivir.
Both, oseltamivir and zanamivir, are effective in treatment and in prophylaxis of influenza,
and the efficacy is calculated to reach 70-90%. Oseltamivir is used more frequently, since
zanamivir is licensed in older children (5 years of age and above), and children under the
age of 5 years are at higher risk of influenza complications. Oseltamivir use correlated in
children with higher risk of vomiting, with no increased risk of other adverse events,
including those observed in adult patients (nausea, renal events, and psychiatric effects).
The PEP may be indicated by individual patient's characteristics (e.g. patients in high-risk
group) or epidemiological reasons, i.e. prevention of institutional outbreaks.The one
research that analyzed efficacy of 3-days PEP versus 7 or 10-days and showed overall efficacy
of shorter oseltamivir prophylaxis to be high and comparable to that of longer regimens. The
study included several pediatric patients and made the investigators perform such an analysis
in pediatric population. In this randomized controlled trial, the investigators aimed to
compare efficacy, safety, and costs of 3 versus 7-days prophylaxis with oral oseltamivir in
children hospitalized. The hypothesis is that 3-days duration of PEP is not less effective
than 7-days PEP, and patients might gain from lower number of adverse reactions related to
drug administration.