Now that influenza season is in full swing, remember that early antiviral treatment can reduce the risk of complications in high-risk individuals. One of those high-risk groups is children <2 years, with the highest hospitalizations and mortality in infants <6 months.

According to the CDC website:
Recommended antiviral medications (neuraminidase inhibitors) are not FDA-approved for treatment of children aged <1 year (oseltamivir) or those aged <7 years (zanamivir). Oseltamivir was used for treatment of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in children aged <1 year under an Emergency Use Authorization, which expired on June 23, 2010. Nevertheless,

•  3-11 months => Treatment: 3 mg/kg/dose BID, Chemoprophylaxis: 3 mg/kg/dose once daily
•  infants <3 months => Treatment: 3 mg/kg/dose BID, Chemoprophylaxis: not recommended
• newborns <14 days => 3 mg/kg/dose once daily
• treatment doses for children >1 year of age varies by weight:

•  <15 kg: 30 mg BID
• 15-23 kg: 45 mg BID
• 23-40 kg: 60 mg BID
• >40 kg: 75 mg BID

Current CDC guidance on treatment of influenza should be consulted; updated recommendations from CDC are available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu

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