Tamiflu- More monitoring required

Lucas came down with fever over Sunday and was still battling with a 39 degrees fever after medication. By the 4th day, I brought him back to the GP, which also happens to be a PPC (Pandemic Preparedness Clinic). The Doc prescribed Tamiflu, saying that he is in the high risk group as (1) he is under 5 years old and (2) he has sensitive airways which makes him more susceptible to lung infections. I have all respect for her but I'm hesitant about giving Lucas Tamiflu. There have been numerous reports that the harm far outweigh the benefits. I raised my concern with the doc and she brushed me off saying that news reports are hogwash and reporters are not doctors. Then she whipped out a memo from MOH that says Tamiflu is safe for children.

So that afternoon when Lucas's fever did not subside, against my nagging better judgement, I gave Lucas the 1st dose of Tamiflu. 30 minutes later, Lucas was puking. He threw up until he had nothing to throw up. Fearing that he might be dehydrated, I asked him to drink some water. He couldn't hold it down and started another round of puking. To take his mind off the vomiting, we played monopoly. Then the halucinations began. He kept telling my phone is ringing when it is not. Then he said he couldn't reach his pawn on the monopoly board cos the table has floated too high. It was scary. He continued retching in between. I kept the monopoly as I didn't think we would be able to continue with the game. And Lucas sat in a corner of the sofa and stared into space. When I talk to him, he just looked at me blankly like I wasn't there. He stoned for another 30 minutes. After that, in a sudden burst, he started running amok all over the house. He laughed and screamed at every thing in the house and when I caught him to slow him down, he just kept giggling. He looked like he just smoked pot!

The effects only wore off about 3-4 hours later. I took him off Tamiflu and called the clinic the next morning to let them know.

Because H1N1 is so rampant, PPCs are taking a "just in case" attitude about prescribing Tamiflu, even to young children. This is despite the concern that the wide spread use may actually cause virus mutation, making it more drug resistant. More monitoring should be done before PPCs take it in their own hands to prescribe Tamiflu. Blood test should be performed to confirm H1N1 before starting patients on Tamiflu. And doctors must make it their responsibility to inform parents and patients of potential side effects.

Expectations

Recently I had a chat with some mommies with kids around Lucas age. They were impressed and amazed that Lucas showers, brushes his teeth, packs his bag and goes to bed by himself. They think he is highly independent and mature. Frankly, Vinc and I had never thought that these tasks were beyond him. We had expected him to do these and he did.

It made me re-examine my expectations. Sometimes I get upset and disappointed that Lucas can't read or write properly. Or that he cannot obey commands or show more self-restrain, for instance at a playground, when he goes ballistic. Or when he gets upset and couldn't control his tantrum. Am I expecting too much from him?