RESEARCHERS have said that children should not be given Tamiflu to combat swine flu, less than a week after the former head of immunology at the Royal Bournemouth expressed doubts over the drug’s safety and efficacy.

A study by Oxford University scientists warned that Tamiflu could cause vomiting in some children, leading to dehydration and the need for hospital treatment.

They concluded that children who are otherwise healthy could suffer more harm than good as a result of taking Tamiflu or another antiviral, Relenza.

Although the study was based on children treated for seasonal flu, they say the results should be applicable to the swine flu.

Last week, retired scientist Brian Young, of Mudeford, told the Daily Echo of his own concerns over Tamiflu, following reports that the drug had caused irrational behaviour in young people in Japan and the United States.

The Oxford research, published in the British Medical Journal, follows two other studies which found more than half of children taking Tamiflu had side-effects such as nausea, insomnia and nightmares.

Dr Carl Heneghan, a GP and clinical lecturer at Oxford, said it was “inappropriate” to give Tamiflu for mild illness, and that the drug only reduced symptoms by one to one-and-a-half days.

He also warned that widespread use of Tamiflu could lead to the flu becoming resistant, and urged the Department of Health to carry out an urgent review of its current policy.

Tamiflu is no longer being used as a preventative and only people with suspected or confirmed swine flu are now being prescribed the drug through the Pandemic Flu Service.

A Department of Health spokesman said: “While there is doubt about how swine flu affects children, we believe a safety first approach of offering antivirals to everyone remains a sensible and responsible way forward.

“For those who experience severe symptoms, the best scientific advice tells us that Tamiflu should still be taken as soon as possible, and to suggest otherwise is potentially dangerous. If people are in any doubt, they should contact their GP.”