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5h ago

Study Finds Flu, Not Oseltamivir, Drives Neuropsychiatric Events in Children

Published in JAMA Neurology, the research draws on a Tennessee Medicaid cohort to show that influenza itself causes pediatric neuropsychiatric events; oseltamivir halves their incidence when administered early.

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Overview

  • The study reviewed de-identified data for 692,295 children aged 5 to 17 enrolled in Tennessee Medicaid from July 2016 to June 2020 and recorded 1,230 serious neuropsychiatric events.
  • Children with influenza experienced higher rates of neurologic and psychiatric complications than those without infection, independent of oseltamivir use.
  • Children treated with oseltamivir during influenza episodes saw about a 50% reduction in serious neuropsychiatric events compared to untreated peers.
  • Oseltamivir given prophylactically to uninfected children did not increase neuropsychiatric event rates relative to baseline levels.
  • The JAMA Neurology publication, supported by NIH grants, aims to reassure clinicians and caregivers about the safety and preventive benefits of early oseltamivir therapy in children.