# Influenza (seasonal, outpatient) - Category: infectious - Review status: reviewed (every claim checked against a document named on this page) - Sources: TAMIFLU (oseltamivir phosphate) US prescribing information, section 2.2 Recommended Dosage for Treatment of Influenza and Table 1 (DailyMed SetID ee3c9555-60f2-4f82-a760-11983c86e97b) · IDSA Guidelines for Influenza 2019 · MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral) - Verified date: 2026-08 ## Verified against - TAMIFLU (oseltamivir phosphate) US prescribing information, section 2.2 Recommended Dosage for Treatment of Influenza and Table 1 (DailyMed SetID ee3c9555-60f2-4f82-a760-11983c86e97b) - MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral) ## Treatment metadata - Oseltamivir — 75 mg — oral.solid - Paracetamol — 500 mg — oral.solid ## Complete treatment card ```text INFLUENZA (SEASONAL, OUTPATIENT) Sources: TAMIFLU (oseltamivir phosphate) US prescribing information, section 2.2 Recommended Dosage for Treatment of Influenza and Table 1 (DailyMed SetID ee3c9555-60f2-4f82-a760-11983c86e97b) · IDSA Guidelines for Influenza 2019 · MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral) Review status: REVIEWED against 2 sources listed above (2026-08) IS IT THIS? - reference only, to read alongside your own examination SYMPTOMS - what the patient reports (3) - Patients who had the seasonal vaccine tend to have milder illness and fewer complications - Mild illness brings cough, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, a runny nose and red, congested eyes [cough · fever · headache · muscle pain · runny nose · sore throat] - A frontal or behind-the-eye headache with light sensitivity or eye pain is a common presentation [eye pain · headache · photophobia] SIGNS - what you find (1) - Severe disease can progress to breathlessness, a fast heart rate and low blood pressure, sometimes needing respiratory support within 48 hours [breathlessness · hypotension · tachycardia] TESTS (6) - Diagnosis is usually made clinically during flu season; most cases don't need lab confirmation - In high-risk patients treatment shouldn't be held up waiting for test results - Rapid or standard molecular PCR assays are preferred, being highly sensitive and specific and able to tell influenza A from B - Rapid antigen tests give a result within 15 minutes and are highly specific, but only low-to- moderately sensitive - Viral culture is the most specific option but takes several days, so it doesn't aid rapid diagnosis - A chest x-ray is obtained in patients with pulmonary symptoms to rule out bacterial pneumonia IF NOT THIS - what else fits (3) - Acute respiratory distress syndrome, adenovirus, arenaviruses and cytomegalovirus are also on the differential - Dengue, echovirus infection, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and HIV infection are also considered - Legionnaires disease and human parainfluenza virus round out the differential list Source StatPearls "Influenza" - disease-level clinical article Status traced to the source above 1. OSELTAMIVIR [1st line] Adult 75 mg twice daily orally (start within 48 hours of symptom onset for maximum benefit) x 5 days Peds 2 weeks to under 1 year: 3 mg/kg per dose twice daily for 5 days, from 2 weeks of age 1 to 12 years: Twice daily for 5 days by weight: 15 kg or less, 30 mg; 15.1 to 23 kg, 45 mg; 23.1 to 40 kg, 60 mg; 40.1 kg or more, 75 mg (Infants 2 weeks to <1 year: 3 mg/kg/dose twice daily for 5 days. Children 1-12 years dosed by weight twice daily for 5 days: 15 kg or less: 30 mg; 15.1-23 kg: 45 mg; 23.1-40 kg: 60 mg; 40.1 kg or more: 75 mg.) Source TAMIFLU (oseltamivir phosphate) US prescribing information, section 2.2 Recommended Dosage for Treatment of Influenza and Table 1 (DailyMed SetID ee3c9555-60f2-4f82-a760-11983c86e97b) Why First-line oral neuraminidase inhibitor antiviral registered and widely available in Egypt (Tamiflu, Epimiraflu) for high-risk or severe outpatient influenza Caution Start as early as possible, ideally within 48 hours of symptom onset; clinical benefit decreases significantly when started after 48h in uncomplicated low-risk cases. May cause nausea and vomiting; administration with food improves tolerability. Adjust dose in renal impairment (reduce dose if CrCl <60 mL/min). Contraindicated in patients with known serious hypersensitivity to oseltamivir. Monitor for neuropsychiatric events (confusion, abnormal behavior), particularly in pediatric patients. Egypt TAMINIL-N 75 MG 10 CAPS. EL NILE. 200.00 EGP (20.00/unit) EPIMIRAFLU 75 MG 10 CAPS. EIPICO 202.00 EGP (20.20/unit) TAMILAVIR 75 MG 10 CAPS. EVA PHARMA 242.00 EGP (24.20/unit) OSELTAMIVIR 75 MG 10 CAPS. ARAB CAPS > A... 288.00 EGP (28.80/unit) TAMIFLU 75MG 10 CAPS. F.HOFFMAN LA ... 345.00 EGP (34.50/unit) TAMINIL-N 12MG/ML SUSP. 30 ML EL NILE. 123.50 EGP -> ? strength differs, ? different route - not oral solid TAMINIL-N 12MG/ML SUSP. 60 ML EL NILE. 238.00 EGP -> ? strength differs, ? different route - not oral solid 2. PARACETAMOL [add-on - not a substitute] Adult 500-1000 mg three or four times a day PRN for fever, headache, and myalgia (max 4000 mg/day) - According to clinical response Peds 10-15 mg/kg/dose [child max 500 mg] (Every 4-6 hours PRN (max 60 mg/kg/day or 4000 mg/day) Under 1 month: 10 mg/kg 3 or 4 times daily, maximum 40 mg/kg/day (MSF Essential Drugs 2024).) 3kg -> 30-45 mg/dose 4kg -> 40-60 mg/dose 5kg -> 50-75 mg/dose 6kg -> 60-90 mg/dose 7kg -> 70-105 mg/dose 8kg -> 80-120 mg/dose 9kg -> 90-135 mg/dose 10kg -> 100-150 mg/dose 11kg -> 110-165 mg/dose 12kg -> 120-180 mg/dose 13kg -> 130-195 mg/dose 14kg -> 140-210 mg/dose 15kg -> 150-225 mg/dose 16kg -> 160-240 mg/dose 17kg -> 170-255 mg/dose 18kg -> 180-270 mg/dose 19kg -> 190-285 mg/dose 20kg -> 200-300 mg/dose 21kg -> 210-315 mg/dose 22kg -> 220-330 mg/dose 23kg -> 230-345 mg/dose 24kg -> 240-360 mg/dose 25kg -> 250-375 mg/dose 26kg -> 260-390 mg/dose 27kg -> 270-405 mg/dose 28kg -> 280-420 mg/dose 29kg -> 290-435 mg/dose 30kg -> 300-450 mg/dose 31kg -> 310-465 mg/dose 32kg -> 320-480 mg/dose 33kg -> 330-495 mg/dose 34kg -> 340-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 35kg -> 350-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 36kg -> 360-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 37kg -> 370-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 38kg -> 380-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 39kg -> 390-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 40kg -> 400-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 41kg -> 410-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 42kg -> 420-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 43kg -> 430-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 44kg -> 440-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 45kg -> 450-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 46kg -> 460-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 47kg -> 470-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 48kg -> 480-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 49kg -> 490-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 50kg -> 500 mg/dose (capped) Source MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral) Why Analgesic and antipyretic added to rest and fluids for symptomatic relief of fever, headache, and myalgia in influenza; it does not shorten the illness, and aspirin should be avoided in children because of Reye syndrome risk. Caution Avoid aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) in children and adolescents with influenza due to the risk of Reye syndrome. Do not exceed maximum daily dose (4 g/day in adults) to avoid liver toxicity. 500 mg is the per-dose ceiling used here for a child. 1000 mg is the adult dose and does not belong in a weight calculation - the daily 60 mg/kg limit is the one that binds first in any case. Administer with caution to patients with hepatic impairment. Egypt FEBRIMOL 500 MG 20 TAB. PHARCO 3.50 EGP (0.17/unit) CETAMOL 500 MG 20 TABS. MEMPHIS 8.00 EGP (0.40/unit) PARACETAMOL-MUP 500MG B.P. 20 TABS. MUP 13.00 EGP (0.65/unit) CETAL 500 MG 20 TABS. EIPICO 24.00 EGP (1.20/unit) ARKADOLOW 500 MG 30 F.C. TABS. UTOPIA 42.00 EGP (1.40/unit) PARAMOL 500MG 20 TAB. MISR 38.00 EGP (1.90/unit) ADOL 500MG 24 CAPLETS JULPHAR 32.00 EGP AUGICETAMIDE 500 MG 20 SACHETS AUG PHARMA 50.00 EGP FEBRIMOL ORAL DROPS 20 ML PHARCO 4.00 EGP -> ? strength differs, ? different route - not oral solid THERA-LO 3.2G/100ML ORAL SUSP. 100 ML PHAROPHARMA 5.00 EGP -> ? strength differs, ? different route - not oral solid Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy. ``` --- Dawaa Reference is a reference for prescribers, not a medical device, and does not replace clinical judgement. [Privacy policy](/privacy)