Antiviral treatment of influenza in South Korea

Abstract

Antiviral therapy has an important role in the treatment and chemoprophylaxis of influenza. At present, two classes of antiviral agents, adamantanes and neuraminidase inhibitors, are available for the treatment and chemoprophylaxis of influenza in Korea. Because of the widespread resistance against adamantanes, neuraminidase inhibitors are mainly used. Because each country has a unique epidemiology of influenza, the proper use of antiviral agents should be determined based on local data. Decisions on the clinical practice in the treatment of influenza in South Korea are guided by the local surveillance data, practice guidelines, health insurance system and the resistance patterns of the circulating influenza viruses. This review highlights the role of antiviral agents in the treatment and outcome of influenza in Korea by providing comprehensive information of their clinical usage in Korea.

Keywords:

• chemoprophylaxis
• influenza
• Korea
• neuraminidase inhibitor
• treatment

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Key issues

• Influenza is a major public health and socioeconomic burden.

• Antiviral therapy is important in treatment and chemoprophylaxis.

• Because of the widespread adamantine resistance among influenza A viruses in Korea, neuraminidase inhibitors are mainly used.

• Decisions on proper use of antiviral agents should be based on local data, health insurance system and the resistance patterns.

• Solid local epidemiologic and virologic data offer the potential of preventing or altering the epidemic of seasonal influenza and emergence of novel influenza.

Notes

^†Based on the data from the reference [52] and current reimbursement plan by the Health Insurance Reimbursement Agency, Korea.