Influenza Flashcards
What is influenza (illness)?
- a contagious viral respiratory illness
What is the incidence of influenza worldwide?
- 3-5 million cases of severe illness
What is the make-up of the influenza virus?
- single-stranded family of RNA viruses referred to as Orthomyxoviridae
- classified as wither type A,B, or C
Influenza __ is responsible for up to 90% of epidemic influenza
A
What are the different subtypes within influenza A based on?
- based on the surface hemagglutinin (HA) or neuraminidase (NA) glycoproteins
Influenza __ has never been seen in humans
C
How is influenza spread?
- respiratory droplets caused by coughing and sneezing
When are most healthy adults able to infect others with influenza?
- 1 day before symptoms start and 5-10 days after becoming sick
What is the typical incubation period of influenza?
- 1-4 days (average 2 days)
The seasonal flu vaccine this year is a _____ vaccine
quadrivalent
What is the common clinical presentation of influenza?
- fever
- muscle pain
- headache
- non-productive cough
- malaise
- sore throat
- rhinitis
(these usually RESOLVE in 1 week of presentation - cough and malaise persist for more than 2 weeks)
What are the general complications of influenza vs a common cold?
Influenza: respiratory failure, especially with chronic conditions
Common cold: congestion, sinus or ear infection
Describe the complications of influenza?
- diffuse viral pneumonitis - the clinical syndrome most likely to result in hospitalization (can lead to shock and resp. failure)
- pneumonia - secondary bacterial infection
- dehydration
- worsening of concurrent medical conditions (asthma, diabetes, congestive HF)
- viral myocarditis is a rate complication
- acute coronary syndrome
- exacerbations of chronic pulmonary conditions
What are the bacteria that cause secondary bacterial pneumonia?
- staphylococcus aureus
- streptococcus pneumoniae
- hemophilus influenzae
- other gram negative bacilli
Samples for influenza testing include what?
- nasopharyngeal swab
- nasal wash
- nasal aspirate
- blood for antibodies
A viral culture provides test result in _____ days
3-10
Viral culture detects both influenza ___ and ___
A and B
What test is done that identifies the presence of influenza A and B viral nucleoprotein antigens in respiratory specimens, and display the result in a qualitative way (positive vs negative)
Rapid influenza diagnostic tests