https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:56:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2875032 Tue, 05 Mar 2019 12:24:29 +0000 Mrsbells 2875032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: if it is the flu then tamiflu is definitely worth it. We used it when DD was 5 and DS was under a year old. They had raging fevers and felt terrible. The tamiflu really helped improve their condition and they had no side effects. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2875022 Tue, 05 Mar 2019 11:21:05 +0000 yerpie110 2875022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 5yo tested positive for flu a few weeks ago. Our pediatrician did not recommend tamiflu even though we were within the window, and we agreed that the potential side effects didn't seem worth it, she had the flu shot, and was not considered a high risk case. She ended up with a pretty mild case (fever was gone by day 3) and recovered quickly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874988 Tue, 05 Mar 2019 09:21:38 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2874988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MenagerieMama: that was my feeling as well. She tested positive for the flu and we decided not to do Tamiflu. The nurse who examined her said that they will write a script but she’s not at high risk and she mentioned that our pediatrician, who I trust a lot, doesn’t usually recommend it for non-risk kids so that was enough for me not to do it. We’ll see how it goes riding it out :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874974 Tue, 05 Mar 2019 08:24:15 +0000 cyoung 2874974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Tamiflu caused no issues for our family. It helped a lot when my kids had flu. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874945 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 22:22:22 +0000 MenagerieMama 2874945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: for what it’s worth, a healthy 5 yo who is vaccinated is not in a high risk category that the CDC would recommend treating. I don’t think I would give it to my oldest. Not that I don’t use it. I took it when I had the flu since I’m pregnant! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874913 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 17:02:31 +0000 Sams Mom 2874913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know if this is an option, but I got generic tamiflu for $10 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874911 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 16:56:58 +0000 bees_knees 2874911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH tested positive for Flu A when DS1 was 9 months old. DS1 (who had gotten both flu shots already) was given Tamiflu as a precaution. He never got the flu, nor did he have any side effects.</p> <p>ETA: It was, however, friggin expensive. (I would still pay it. But just sayin. haha) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874906 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 16:28:10 +0000 bhbee 2874906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Flu was crazy this year at our elementary - 7yo got it but for nearly all who had it it was about a 3 day affair if vaccinated, our pedi said this as well. So they weren’t recommending tamiflu for the average case. She did get a secondary infection that kept her out a week, but not sure tamiflu would have helped prevent. </p> <p>However they would have given it if brother tested positive since he has asthma. And she took tamiflu the year before and no effects though many get the vomiting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874899 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 14:59:29 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2874899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: Our doc told us not to come in until today (she woke up with symptoms yesterday and was perfectly fine the day before), and I think I've read that it's usually within 48 hours that it has effectiveness, so I think we're still within the window but again, not sure if it's worth while overall. It's great to hear these responses, thank you all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874896 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 14:48:06 +0000 SteelerGirl 2874896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 2.5 yo got the flu about 2 months ago. She had been vaccinated. We caught it very early- before she even had symptoms (we suspected she caught it from me, and was one day behind me). We gave her the Tamiflu, and because of Tamiflu she never showed any symptoms. It was remarkable. We are very grateful that she avoided the horrible symptoms I had to endure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874891 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 14:37:48 +0000 DesertDreams88 2874891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did Tamiflu because we caught it within 8 hours of the onset of symptoms AND we had to minimize transmission risk (LO was 10 weeks old, DH was the one with the flu and I had to return to work in 4 days). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874878 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 13:58:55 +0000 kiddosc 2874878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD had the flu last season after getting the flu shot but was under 2. Since she fell into the higher risk for complications age group, under two or over 65, we did the tamiflu. She had a super mild case to begin with and I don't remember any side effects from the tamiflu. She was better in like 48 hours. In your case, since her case seems mild and you don't have other kids in the house to worry about, I would probably consider skipping it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874877 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 13:55:23 +0000 Mama Bird 2874877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It may not do a whole lot at this point. I gather that it's most effective when you give it very early at the start of symptoms. My kids have tolerated it well. It protected the kids who were just getting sick very well, but whoever already showed symptoms for a day didn't see any improvement.</p> <p>For what it's worth, though, the vaccine doesn't seem very effective this year as far as not getting sick, but it does reduce severity. Both older kids got sick this year, but their symptoms were mild compared to ours (just fever, exhaustion and no appetite), and they were OK in about three days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874866 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 13:30:10 +0000 EBSC 2874866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just finished tamiflu. He had a fever on Monday, started meds on Tuesday.</p> <p>I'm of the opinion that if it can help shorten, it's worth it. That, and I had the flu and am 39w, so let's just be proactive here.... I didn't really notice any major side effects. He's been a bit crazier than normal, which might be the meds, but might be that we're at a major life transition for him! No tummy effects at all, and he was definitely through 90% of any flu symptoms by Thursday (just a runny nose left). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874863 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 13:21:47 +0000 Shantuck 2874863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son had the flu when he was 3 (got the flu after getting the flu shot). We did Tamiflu and he didn't have any side effects. He got better pretty quickly after starting the Tamiflu (started it on a Sat night and was probably back to school on Tuesday). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874859 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 13:08:12 +0000 periwinklebee 2874859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we went in my son had a 105 temperature (even with fever reducer) from the flu (he was 12 months at the time). They gave him tamiflu. We got through 3 doses before he developed hives. He was also extremely fussy before getting hives, but since he couldn't talk I have no idea if it was tamiflu or just the flu itself. </p> <p>That said, the reaction was pretty mild. We have an epi due to other allergies and instructions to use it with any reaction since he's had an anaphylactic reaction before, but this was mild enough that I really didn't feel it was necessary, and neither did the nurse. Benadryl did the trick. Even with the reaction, I think it was worth a try, since the flu can be very serious...</p> <p>ETA that our LO was also vaccinated </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874856 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 12:58:25 +0000 Sams Mom 2874856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My nearly 3 y/o son tested positive for flu A a couple weeks ago. He had the shot also, so although he had a fairly high fever, and slept a lot it wasn't too hard on him. Our pediatrician said I could have a tamiflu script if I wanted one, but the side effects are much harsher with kids than adults, so he recommends against it. </p> <p>Sam's symptoms with shot but no tamiflu lasted about 3 days, 2 of them with fever.</p> <p>I got a script for myself from my doctor, and although it did shorten it and make it less severe, I puked... And I hate puking (I know no one enjoys it, but I can't handle it) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874852 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 12:52:29 +0000 LemonJack 2874852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last year our younger DD tested positive for the flu at 8 months. Like your daughter, she had been vaccinated, so the doctor said she was likely to have a milder case (which turned out to be true). As a result, they said Tamiflu was up to me. Due to her age, we chose to fill the prescription, but we only gave it to her a few times. Every time she had it she vomited and couldn’t keep anything down, so we just stopped using it (with our doctor’s approval). </p> <p>That being said, I would go with what your doctor suggests. If she hadn’t been vaccinated I would definitely say go for it, but since she has, she’s hopefully going to get a milder case anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-experience-with-tamiflu-for-kids#post-2874849 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 12:40:22 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2874849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I read through a few older posts on this and figured I'd ping folks again for a more current perspective. We're taking my 5 year old in this afternoon, and I have a feeling she might test positive for the flu. She had her flu shot early in the fall, and is generally a very healthy kid (hadn't had as much as a sniffle since July, knock on wood). Sunday she woke up with a 101 fever that lasted all day between 101-102, she slept a ton, didn't eat much, drank about a glass of water all day, went to bed early, slept pretty well all night, and woke up fever free but then it went up to 102 again around 10 AM and she's been asleep for a couple hours again after a small breakfast. She's complaining of a sore throat, and is very mucousy/phlegmy. </p> <p>If she tests positive for the flu, I'm torn on whether Tamiflu is worth it, and would love first-hand accounts. I'm not anti meds at all and happy to pay for it. I am more weighing the pros of shortening the duration by a day or 2 max (which seems like that's the biggest benefit) over potential side effects like tummy troubles and potentially more severe ones that folks have mentioned, like hallucinations. And if her symptoms aren't terribly severe and on par with a crappy virus, is it worth going that route and potentially adding side effects to the mix. </p> <p>TIA! </p>