ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) oseltamivir, zanamivir, laninamivir and peramivir are available in Japan. However, the selective use of NAIs for treating outpatients with influenza has not been clearly defined. METHODS: We assigned 191 patients with influenza to 4 groups, each treated with a different NAI, and then compared how long it took to alleviate fever and other symptoms and to eliminate the virus. RESULTS: Alleviation of fever occurred significantly sooner with peramivir than with either zanamivir (p = 0.0002) or oseltamivir (p = 0.0059), but was not significantly different from that with laninamivir (p = 0.0457; p < 0.0083). Other symptoms were also alleviated sooner by peramivir than by the other 3 NAIs. CONCLUSIONS: The ability of each NAI to alleviate influenza symptoms and fever varied. The appropriate use of NAIs requires further study.
