Influenza Flashcards
When does influenza outbreak?
- Mostly winter
- Common 5-10% of adults
What type of outbreaks can there be in influenza?
local community outbreaks, epidemic and pandemics
What is used to help prevent influenza?
vaccine
What is the incubation period like for influenza?
1-4d
What are RF for influenza?
- Age >65 years
- Age 6-59 months
- Chronic cardiovascular or resp conditions
- Diabetes
- Haemoglobinopathy
- Immunocompromise
- CKD
- Pregnancy
- Healthcare workers
What are symptoms and signs of influenza?
- Upper and lower resp tract symptoms
1. fever
2. cough
3. sore throat
What are possible DDx for influenza?
- Covid-19
- Bacterial pneumonia
- RSV infection
- PIV
What investigations are used for influenza?
Clinical diagnosis
What is the management plan for at risk influenza patients?
1st line: prophylactic antiviral therapy: e.g. oseltamivir
What is the management plan for acute influenza?
1st line: antipyretic/analgesic
High risk: antiviral therapy
With bacterial superinfection:
1. Broad spectrum/targeted antibiotic therapy
What are possible complications of influenza?
- Bacterial pneumonia
- Viral pneumonia
- Otitis media
- Encephalitis
- Transverse myelitis
- Aseptic meningitis
- Toxic shock syndrome
- Guillain barre syndrome
- Post influenza encephalopathy
