Oseltamivir adherence and side effects among children in three London schools affected by influenza A(H1N1)v, May 2009 – an internet-based cross-sectional survey

A Kitching; A Roche; S Balasegaram; R Heathcock; H Maguire

doi:10.2807/ese.14.30.19287-en

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Oseltamivir adherence and side effects among children in three London schools affected by influenza A(H1N1)v, May 2009 – an internet-based cross-sectional survey
A Kitching^1,2 , A Roche³ , S Balasegaram⁴ , R Heathcock⁵ , H Maguire³
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Affiliations: ¹ European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden ² Health Protection Agency (HPA), London Region Epidemiology Unit, London, United Kingdom ³ Health Protection Agency, South West London Health Protection Unit (HPU), London, United Kingdom ⁴ Health Protection Agency, North East and North Central London HPU, London, United Kingdom ⁵ Health Protection Agency, South East London HPU, London, United Kingdom

Correspondence:
A Kitching
Aileen.Kitching hpa.org.uk
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Citation style for this article: Kitching A, Roche A, Balasegaram S, Heathcock R, Maguire H. Oseltamivir adherence and side effects among children in three London schools affected by influenza A(H1N1)v, May 2009 – an internet-based cross-sectional survey. Euro Surveill. 2009;14(30):pii=19287. https://doi.org/10.2807/ese.14.30.19287-en Received: 20 Jul 2009

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Abstract

This report describes the results of a cross-sectional anonymised online survey on adherence to, and side effects from oseltamivir when offered for prophylaxis, among pupils from one primary and two secondary schools with confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1)v in London in April-May 2009. Of 103 respondents (response rate 40%), 95 were estimated to have been offered oseltamivir for prophylaxis, of whom 85 (89%) actually took any. Less than half (48%) of primary schoolchildren completed a full course, compared to three-quarters (76%) of secondary schoolchildren. More than half (53%) of all schoolchildren taking prophylactic oseltamivir reported one or more side effects. Gastrointestinal symptoms were reported by 40% of children and 18% reported a mild neuropsychiatric side effect. The results confirmed anecdotal evidence of poor adherence, provided timely information with which to assist decision-making, and formed part of the body of growing evidence that contributed to policy changes to restrict widespread use of prophylaxis for school contacts of confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1)v.