The swine flu, advice giving and the reporting of adverse drug reactions.

The swine flu pandemic has gripped the headlines over the summer and its management in the UK is proving to be controversial. The government's advice to issue anti-virals to people of all ages with flu-like symptoms runs contrary to World Health Organisation advice. The benefits of anti-virals for children has been called into doubt because of the risk of severe side effects. Concern over adverse drug reactions has prompted the Medicines and Healthcare products regulatory agency to urge health professionals and the public to assist its monitoring of the drug by reporting adverse drug reactions. It is essential that district nurses have up-to-date knowledge of the adverse reactions of the commonly used anti-virals in order to exercise a duty of care to their patients by giving appropriate advice and ensuring adequate monitoring and early detection of unwanted side effects. This article makes recommendations to district nurses for improving patient concordance with prescribed medicines, reporting adverse drug reactions via the swine flu ADR portal and how to obtain up-to-date information on unwanted side effects.