Is Tamiflu safe for children?

Tamiflu, the drug being touted as the best defense against a flu epidemic, has been the subject of some concern due to the deaths of a dozen Japanese children taking the drug. Two children were reported to have hallucinations that caused their deaths, one by jumping out of a window and another by jumping in front of a truck. Other deaths were found to have been caused by cardiopulmonary arrest, pneumonia, asphyxiation and pancreatitis. Although the FDA has determined that these deaths could not specifically be linked to Tamiflu, and may be more closely related to the flu itself, severe skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, have been linked to the drug. The FDA will continue monitoring Tamiflu and its effect on children over the next two years. If your child has an unusual reaction, tell your pediatrician immediately and also submit the information to the FDA's Medwatch system.