Ciguatera Fish Poisoning

oseltamivir for six weeks." At the end of the sixbeek period, 4.8% of the placebo group had laboratory confzmed flu compared with only 1.2% of the oseltamivir group. Additional studies are on-going analyzing both ueatment efficacy as welI as the profinitive effects of the neuraminidase inhibitors. The decision by the EM physician on whether to prescribe one of the newer neununinidase inhibitors should be individualized to the patient and the likelihood of actually having influenza A or B, and benefit that may occur. A d v a n e s for pmcribing these agents include a significant reduction in illness severity as well as reducing total illness duration. The elderly and high-risk patienu; also have decreased secondary complications of influenza when treated with these agents. Disadvantages include potential side effects and costs. However, many patients are willing to pay $50 to have a less severe bout of the flu. Side effects includk 1) potential bmnchospasm with inhaled zanamivir and, 2) nausea, vomiting and headache fmm oseltamivir. The bronchospasm associated with zanamivir has received attention fmm the national media Until more data is available, physicians should not prescribe mamivir to patients prone to bronchospasm.