NSAIDs and Flu

Rokuro Hama, chairperson1 

The potentially harmful effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatorydrugs (NSAIDs) are rarely discussed in the treatment of A/H1N1flu, which has caused high death rates in Mexico.

Severe and fatal cases, including sudden death, are characterised by severe sepsis with multi-organ failure with findings such as fever, leucocytosis, leucopenia, acute respiratory distresssyndrome (ARDS), liver impairment, renal failure, rhabdomyolysis,and hypotension.

...The 2007 guidelinefrom the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence(NICE) on feverish illness in children under 5 reviewed the sparse evidence on using antipyretic medicines, which seems to indicate that artificially lowering a fever may reduce the immune response and prolong illness. NICE therefore recommended,

 

A small trial on the use of antipyretics in an intensive care unit was stopped because mortality was 16% in the treated group and 1% in the untreated group.2

The existing evidence suggests that antipyretics should be avoided in patients with pandemic flu,3 yet the Health Protection Agency(HPA)[ as well as the CDC, AAP, AAFP, ACOG] continues to recommend their routine use.4

 

1.    National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Feverish illness in children. Assessment and initial management in children younger than 5 years. NICE guideline 47, 2007. www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG47QuickRefGuide.pdf
2.    Schulman CI, Namias N, Doherty J, Manning RJ, Li P, Alhaddad A, et al. The effect of antipyretic therapy upon outcomes in critically ill patients: a randomized, prospective study. Surgical Infections 2005;6:369-75. doi: 10.1089/sur.2005.6.369[CrossRef][Medline]
3.    Hama R. NSAIDs and flu. BMJ 2009;338:b2345. (15 June)
4.    Health Protection Agency. Summary of prescribing guidance for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza-like illness: treatment phase, appendix five, version 1.5, 2009. www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1243581475043

Clinical Infectious Diseases 2009;49:000-000
Karen M. M.D.

The high case fatality rate especially among young adults during the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic is incompletely understood. Although late deaths showed bacterial pneumonia, early deaths exhibited extremely "wet," sometimes hemorrhagic lungs.
 
 The hypothesis presented herein is that aspirin contributed to the incidence and severity of viral pathology, bacterial infection, and death,
 
 because physicians of the day were unaware that the regimens (8.0-31.2 g per day) produce levels associated with hyperventilation and pulmonary edema in 33% and 3% of recipients, respectively. Recently, pulmonary edema was found at autopsy in 46% of 26 salicylate
intoxicated adults. Experimentally, salicylates increase lung fluid and protein levels and impair mucociliary clearance.

 

 In 1918, the US Surgeon General, the US Navy, and the Journal of the American Medical Association recommended use of aspirin just before the October death spike. If these recommendations were followed, and if pulmonary edema occurred in 3% of persons, a significant proportion of the deaths may be attributable to aspirin.

Gary Null, PhD will present on the real truth behind vaccines.  A multi award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author, Dr. Null has written over 70 books on nutrition, self-empowerment and public health issues.  His syndicated public radio show, Natural Living with Gary Null, earned 21 Silver Microphone Awards and is the longest-running, continuously aired health program in America (27 years).  Gary Null holds a Ph.D. in human nutrition and public health science.  Dr. Null is senior editor and lead investigator for the "Caveat Emptor" and host of ABC Radio Network and WABC radio.  Television programs such as 20/20 and 60 Minutes have used his material.  As a documentary filmmaker, Gary has achieved critical acclaim. He's produced over 20 award-winning films and videos on health and nutrition topics, including Vaccine Nation.

Gary Null was a founder and director of health and nutrition certificate programs at Pratt Institute and The School of Visual Arts. He was also the founder of the National Health Resources Council and the Nutrition Institute of America, where he has also served as a Director of Nutrition. Dr. Null has been featured in numerous publications, including The Daily News, Time, People, Fitness, Time Out, and Vegetarian Times.  He receiving the Truth in Journalism Award for Investigative Reporting and The Human Rights Award from the Citizens Commission on Human Rights. His scholarly and academic papers have been published in such journals as The Townsend Letter for Doctors, The Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, and The Journal of Applied Nutrition. 

 

Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Time: 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM CDT

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