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TV presenter Andrew Castle today revealed his daughter “almost died” after taking Tamiflu.
Georgina, 16, suffered an asthma attack a day after being given a double dose of the antiviral.
Castle said: “She was lying on our floor going grey. This was a very worrying situation. She couldn't breathe.”
Georgina was given Tamiflu after a swine flu outbreak at Alleyne's school in Dulwich in May. Tests later revealed that she did not have the virus.
At that time pupils were being given the antiviral as a precaution even when they did not have swine flu.
Castle confronted Health Secretary Andy Burnham during an interview on today's GMTV, following research which cast doubt on the benefits of the anti-viral drug. He said: “I can tell you that my child — who was not diagnosed at all — she had asthma, she took Tamiflu and almost died.”
Speaking to Castle, Mr Burnham said: “It must have been a very worrying situation for you, but that was in a very different phase of the illness when we were seeing the scenes from Mexico and we were in what we call the containment phase, where we were trying to isolate every case.
“We've got to keep things in proportion… People shouldn't take Tamiflu unless they have got swine flu.”
He added: “Tamiflu is our only, our main line of defence right now.”
Speaking to the Standard, Castle said: “Because the health secretary was there I thought I would ask him about it. The purpose was not to attack him, but I have had experience of this.”
He added: “Georgina had flu-like symptoms so they gave her a double dose of Tamiflu. But the next day she completely went south healthwise. She was in a terrible way.” He said they could not get a GP to see his daughter so called an ambulance.
He added: “She was taken to St George's Hospital in Tooting and spent three days with oxygen and was put in isolation… We made the connection with Tamiflu very quickly.
“We have had emails saying people taking Tamiflu have experienced vomiting and diarrhoea, and parents at Georgina's school have reported cases of depression.”
About 300,000 people in England have had courses of Tamiflu. But yesterday, Oxford University researchers said children should not be given the drug.
The side-effects
* More than 400 reports of Tamiflu side-effects have been received since the start of the swine flu outbreak.
* The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is collecting data on the problems, including headaches.
* In children, the most commonly reported side-effects are vomiting (15 per cent) and diarrhoea (10 per cent). Five per cent of children report abdominal pain.
Reader views (16)
Kerry, Purley.
You cannot even spell my name correctly.
Go back to skool.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK
Andrew Castle has never struck me as the brighest spark. Not much personality either. They should have left him in the changing rooms.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
One very unfortunate side effect of swine flu and the prescribing of the anti viral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza is the pandemic of drivel from TV celebrities and right wing bigots.
The worrying thing is that a previously chronic condition from which they suffer - that is pronouncing on a subject about which they are completely ignorant - has now transformed itself into a potentially life threatning one. It is quite clear from reading the posts of Richard, Reubens, Amanda (and even Harsh but Fair*) that they have absolutely no knowledge of virology or pharmacology. But are quite happy to make
assertions willy nilly simply to vent their spleen at NuLabour.
The real worry is that other people might believe them and not seek appropriate medical advice when they should do so (such as being in a high risk category) and consequently endanger their health.
*[There is absolutely no evidence that taking high doses of high strength vitamin c or Echinacea would shorten the illness. I am fully in favour of Granny's soup though, as that will definitely make you feel better.]
- William, London, UK
Almost all drugs have potential negative side affects, we take them because the risk of adverse affects is significantly lower than the risk of the problem they treat. This TV presenter's 'diagnosis' will sadly lead tens of thousands into the misguided view that tamiflu is more risky than swine flu, and having formed that opinion, nothing said by medical experts will shake them.
It's the same kind of misguided nonsense that leads fools to expose their children to diseases such as measles rather than vaccinate.
- Neill, Barnet, England
There is a fully-tested, non-invasive method of protecting the UK population from H1H1.
There is an air purification system that can kill H1N1 swine flu and H5N1 bird flu within minutes in any room or other enclosed space. It is also effective against the MRSA superbug and other airborne bacteria and viruses. It could protect public transport, homes, offices - all indoor spaces.
The Tri-Air unit is unique in combining three separate process from killing virus and simulates the natural purification properties of fresh air by creating the cleansing hydroxyl radicals that occur outdoors. The technology is not a filtration process - it recreates the hydroxyl radicals outside of the unit in which bacteria and viruses cannot survive to rapidly purify the air within an indoors area.
- Pro Patrea, London
So what if his daughter had not been given Tamiflu? Perhaps her worsening condition was down to the flu itself and not the drug. I am sick and tried of these Z-list GMTV celebrities - with no medical training - abusing their public position to scare the worried well.
- John David, London
Sudden respiratory difficulty ("collapse"? ) could be caused either by a bad reaction to this flu or by an allergic reaction to the drug. It's not easy to tell.
All drugs very occasionally cause life-threatening side effects in susceptible people. This flu is currently mild, and for a healthy person not in an at-risk group, it will also only very occasionally be life-threatening. It's therefore hard to decide whether the flu or the drug is the greater risk - both risks are too small to measure accurately, especially when the one looks very much like the other.
But should you be in an at-risk group, or should this flu mutate into a deadlier form, Tamiflu would then quite definitely be a life-saver.
- Nigel, London
I enjoyed the interview on GMTV this morning. NuLabour especially the Dear Leader usually favour GMTV as they generally get an easy ride but today was most refreshing as Andy Burnham was squirming as he oozed incompetence and conflicting responses. It is just a shame that anyone needing sound advice on Tamiflu was left none the wiser. On the subject of this governments fitness to govern however it was all so crystal clear!
- Edgar, London
Rueban camara, you are just an idiot. Some failed tennis player and rubbish TV host spouts off, no doubt on the advice of his agent and you lay it at the door of Andy Burnham!! A few weeks ago, you and your deluded self important clique of Tory supporting bigots were shreiking that there wasn't enough tamiflu to go round.
As for Richard of Brighton, had you gone to school and learnt to spell and concoct a cogent argument we might listen to you instead of sneering at your stupidity.
- Kerry, Purley
One of my kids was diagnosed as 'probably' having swine flu by the doctor so was prescribed Tamiflu. When our son's symptoms got no worse we realised it wasn't Swine Flu so we didn't give it to him. I don't blame the doctor for prescribing it, it was "safety first" but as parents you have to take responsibility for the decisions you make about your kids. She clearly didn't have a collapsed lung and if he was that scared he would have taken his daughter to A&E whatever he was told.
If the government hadn't set up a 'safety first' approach peolpe on here would have been slaughtering them. The idea this is the fault of the government is laughable.
- S T G, London
Perhaps Mr Castle would like to clarify 'respiratory collapse'. It suggests something very serious like lung collapse - however, she would have died if she had not been taken to A&E. If, on the other hand, she had a serious asthma attack, that is different. That would in most cases be treatable if the school had nebuliser equipment (and being a good school the infirmary probably does). If it's the former, I'm a bit surprised he didn't actually clearly state what happened. If it's the latter, Mr Castle should be ashamed of stoking the paranoia and frenzy further by embellishing the truth. I say this as an asthmatic - I find his wording of his daughter's actual condition a bit misleading.
- 888, London
I caught "swine flu" in Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, on 22nd March 2009. This virus has been doing the rounds in south London for some time. Tamiflu cures nothing.
- Amanda, East Dulwich, South London, UK
Bungling Burnham and the rest of the Wombles of Westminster need urgently investigating by the appropriate authorities for grossly spouting tripe about Tamiflu.
Typical of the hypocrites in the House of Conmen.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK
The press have stoked this flu outbreak from the start and the nanny state panicked as usual. The government tried to look proactive, but mindlessly gave out an old unrelated flu medicine, crossed their fingers and hoped! They didn't emphasise the problems of this flu treatment, no instead they set up .. diagnosis over the phone... well it works for pizza delivery!
It would be better if kids were told to stay at home when they had the flu, give them some high strength vitamin c, Echinacea and some of grannies hot soup and within a few days they would be better.
Another great idea from the flying Scotsman... let's clear out the old drug cabinet and make some cash... shocker!
- Harsh But Fair, London
Perhaps Mr Castle was caught up in the media hysteria that his and other tv organisation helped to create.
Rather than lashing out at a Government Minister, he should look closer to home.
How do you nearly die anyway?
- Charles, Kennington
I wouldant evan give my dog anthing a polition said was ok so more fall any one taking Andy Burnam advice, did any one listen to the stazi.
- Richard, brighton
