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Influenza

Reduced Risk of Serious Neuropsychiatric Events with Oseltamivir Treatment in Children and Adolescents with Influenza

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center have investigated the association between influenza, oseltamivir treatment, and serious neuropsychiatric events in children and adolescents. This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from over 692,000 children aged 5 to 17 years enrolled in Tennessee Medicaid during the 2016 to 2017 and 2019 to 2020 influenza seasons. The study found that oseltamivir treatment during influenza episodes was associated with a reduced risk of serious neuropsychiatric events, with incidence rate ratios (IRRs) indicating a 47% reduction in neurologic events and a 20% reduction in psychiatric events.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed data from 692,975 eligible children aged 5 to 17 years enrolled in Tennessee Medicaid during the 2016 to 2017 and 2019 to 2020 influenza seasons.
  • Oseltamivir treatment during influenza episodes was associated with a reduced risk of serious neuropsychiatric events, with incidence rate ratios (IRRs) indicating a 47% reduction in neurologic events and a 20% reduction in psychiatric events.
  • The study found that the most common events overall were mood disorders (36.3%) and suicidal or self-harm behaviors (34.2%).
  • Sensitivity analyses suggest that misclassification or unmeasured confounding would not explain the findings, and that the reduction in neuropsychiatric events is driven more by a reduction in neurologic events.
  • This study supports the use of oseltamivir for prevention of these influenza-related complications.

Statistics:

  • 692,975 children aged 5 to 17 years enrolled in Tennessee Medicaid
  • 1230 serious neuropsychiatric events (898 neurologic and 332 psychiatric) during 19,688,320 person-weeks of follow-up
  • 151,401 influenza episodes, with 66.7% (95% CI, 66.5%-67.0%) dispensed oseltamivir
  • Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) indicating a 47% reduction in neurologic events and a 20% reduction in psychiatric events

Sources:

  • Influenza With and Without Oseltamivir Treatment and Neuropsychiatric Events Among Children and Adolescents. JAMA Neurology, 2025;82(10):1013.

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