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Guidance

Influenza: treatment and prophylaxis using anti-viral agents

Guidance on how to manage influenza (flu) using anti-viral agents.

Updates to this page

From:
UK Health Security Agency
Published:
23 January 2014
Last updated:
23 January 2026
Show all updates

  1. A row has been added to Table 3 for patients with CrCL less than or equal to 10mL/min.

  2. 'Guidance on use of antiviral agents for the treatment and prophylaxis of seasonal influenza' updated and converted to html: The major changes from version 11.0 (November 2021) include: - change in working definition for severity of influenza disease from uncomplicated and complicated influenza to non-severe and severe influenza - updated information about influenza antiviral resistance - description and advice on use of new antiviral baloxavir marboxil - updated treatment recommendation tables - the ability to prescribe influenza antivirals out-of-season in primary care is no longer dependent on the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) notification indicating the start of seasonal influenza circulation and recommendations have been changed to reflect this.

  3. Updated version of the guidance.

  4. Removed 'Letter to clinicians prescribing antivirals: December 2018 update'.

  5. Updated 'Guidance on use of antiviral agents for the treatment and prophylaxis of seasonal influenza'.

  6. Updated recommendations from manufacturers on the use of 2 drugs described in the document.

  7. Added additional advice for clinicians prescribing antivirals letter.

  8. Replaced guidance on use of antiviral agents with new version.

  9. Updated PHE guidance document.

  10. Updated with 2016 to 2017 guidance.

  11. Document entitled "Antiviral prescribing when A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza virus is the dominant circulating strain Update letter, January 2016" has been removed as it was specific to last season and therefore the information contained is no longer applicable.

  12. Update letter for antiviral prescribing when A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza virus is the dominant circulating strain.

  13. Updated guidance for the 2015 to 2016 flu season.

  14. This version (5.1) updates version 5.0 (October 2014) with revised guidance on choice of antivirals in severely immunocompromised individuals.

  15. The following have been uploaded; The use of antivirals for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza: summary of guidance for healthcare professionals; Letter to clinicians regarding the use of antivirals in influenza

  16. Updated guidance.

  17. First published.

Documents

Guidance on use of antiviral agents for the treatment and prophylaxis of seasonal influenza

HTML

Details

This document includes information on:

  • definitions
  • treatment of suspected or confirmed influenza
  • post-exposure prophylaxis
  • use of anti-virals in pregnancy, breastfeeding, hepatic or renal dysfunction

This guidance and related documents were previously published by Public Health England.

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