Alina Terep, head of the Estonian Family Physicians Association, has warned that as the flu epidemic continues, there may be a shortage of Tamiflu, so doctors should carefully consider prescribing it, reports ERR News.
The World Health Organization’s recommendations state that Tamiflu, or oseltamivir, should be used in cases of severe or progressive flu, preferably within the first 48 hours after symptoms appear.
Terep recommended limiting the prescription of Tamiflu to patients at risk, because if the spread of flu remains at the current level and the drug is prescribed as freely as it is now, it will simply become scarce. She noted that, according to WHO recommendations, Tamiflu is not suitable for healthy children and adults anyway. Terepa explained that this refers to people who do not suffer from chronic diseases, such as asthma, kidney failure and the like: ” In other words,
for otherwise healthy people, Tamiflu does not provide much benefit,
neither for prophylaxis nor does it significantly shorten the course of true influenza.”
Since oseltamivir acts directly on the influenza virus, it is necessary to conduct tests before using it, and therefore family doctors prescribe this medication after a laboratory or home test. However, Terepa pointed out that there are currently no flu treatment guidelines specifically for Estonia, probably because the WHO guidelines are sufficiently comprehensive. This does mean that the approach to prescribing prescription medications may differ among family doctors.
Influenza in Estonia reached epidemic levels in December, and from the second week of December until the end of the year, approximately 2,000 cases were registered.
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