Administration of neuraminidase inhibitors for the treatment of Japanese patients infected with the novel influenza A (H1N1).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States recommend the use of neuraminidase inhibitors for treating the novel influenza A (H1N1) in patients requiring desirable antiviral agents. However, the efficacy and side effects of neuraminidase inhibitors in Japanese patients infected with the novel influenza A (H1N1) are not well known. It is worth reporting on the results of the administration of neuraminidase inhibitors in Japanese patients infected with the novel influenza A (H1N1), as it is believed the number of Japanese patients will increase in the future. We treated seven Japanese patients (five adults and two juveniles) infected with the novel influenza A (H1N1) with oseltamivir and zanamivir, and good clinical courses were obtained. Our study indicates that oseltamivir and zanamivir may indeed be useful in Japanese patients infected with the novel influenza A (H1N1) in cases where antiviral therapy is required.