During annual influenza epidemics, the highest illness rates occur among children, who are also known to play substantial roles in influenza transmission among households and communities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend postexposure chemoprophylaxis with neuraminidase inhibitors for close contacts at elevated risk for influenza complications who have not been vaccinated or are unlikely to be protected through vaccination or other contact precautions at the time of exposure.1 The effectiveness of postexposure prophylaxis with neuraminidase inhibitors is estimated to be 68% to 90%. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends oral oseltamivir prophylaxis in infants starting at 3 months of age and in high-risk children, and inhaled zanamivir prophylaxis is recommended only in children ≥5 years old.1,2 Intravenous peramivir is not approved for children or for prophylaxis in the United States. The recommended duration of prophylaxis currently is 7 to 10 days from last exposure...
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December 2016
Commentary|
December 01 2016
Influenza Prophylaxis in Children: Could a Single Dose of One Drug Be an Option?
Flor M. Munoz, MD;
aDepartment of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas; and
Address correspondence to Flor M. Munoz, MD, FAAP, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, BCM-280, Houston, TX 77030. E-mail: florm@bcm.edu
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Henry H. Bernstein, DO
Henry H. Bernstein, DO
bDepartment of Pediatrics, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, New Hyde Park, New York
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Address correspondence to Flor M. Munoz, MD, FAAP, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, BCM-280, Houston, TX 77030. E-mail: florm@bcm.edu
POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The authors have indicated they have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.
Pediatrics (2016) 138 (6): e20162371.
Article history
Accepted:
September 01 2016
Citation
Flor M. Munoz, Henry H. Bernstein; Influenza Prophylaxis in Children: Could a Single Dose of One Drug Be an Option?. Pediatrics December 2016; 138 (6): e20162371. 10.1542/peds.2016-2371
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