RESEARCH has cast doubt on whether children should be given antiviral drugs for swine flu.

The British Medical Journal says Tamiflu and Relenza rarely prevent complications in children with seasonal flu, yet carry side effects.

However, they did not test this theory in the current swine flu pandemic and the Government has stuck by its policy of offering them to anyone infected.

The Department of Health said a "safety first approach" of offering antivirals to everyone remained a sensible and responsible way forward, but promised to keep the policy under review.

Antivirals are the mainstay of treatment at the moment until a vaccine becomes available, which is expected in September.