Healthy Skepticism Library item: 10462

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Publication type: Journal Article

Zanamivir: a second look - Still no tangible impact on influenza.
Prescrire Int 2001 Dec; 10:(56):175-7

Abstract:

(1) The reference treatment for suspected influenza during outbreaks is simple relief of symptoms (fever, rhinitis, headache, myalgia, etc.). (2) According to a comparative placebo-controlled trial involving 525 patients with asthma and/or chronic obstructive airways disease, and a meta-analysis of 9 trials involving patients at risk of complications, zanamivir shortens the duration of symptoms of suspected influenza by about a day. But zanamivir has not been shown to reduce antibiotic prescribing, or the incidence of complications necessitating hospitalisation. (3) Zanamivir has no proven efficacy in preventing the spread of influenza by a treated patient. (4) Zanamivir inhalation can induce bronchospasm. (5) In practice, prevention through vaccination remains the mainstay of management. Symptomatic relief is the only rational therapy for influenza.

Keywords:
Antiviral Agents/administration & dosage Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use Bronchial Spasm/chemically induced Clinical Trials Haemophilus Vaccines Humans Influenza, Human/complications Influenza, Human/drug therapy* Influenza, Human/prevention & control Meta-Analysis Sialic Acids/administration & dosage Sialic Acids/therapeutic use* Treatment Outcome