INFLUENZA

• Around 33% of people with influenza are asymptomatic
• Symptoms of influenza may include:
  • Fever and extreme coldness (chills shivering, shaking)
  • Cough
  • Nasal congestion
  • Runny nose
  • Sneezing
  • Body aches, especially joints and throat
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Irritated, watering eyes
  • Reddened eyes, skin (especially face), mouth, throat and nose
  • Petechial rash
• There may be difficulty in distinguishing between the common cold and influenza in the early stages.
  • Flu – high fever with a sudden onset and extreme fatigue
  • Influenza – mixture of symptoms of common cold and pneumonia, body ache, headache, and fatigue.
• Of the symptoms enumerated, the combinations of fever with cough, sore throat and/or nasal congestion can improve accuracy of diagnosis.
• Occasionally, can cause severe illness
  • Primary viral pneumonia or secondary bacterial pneumonia.
  • Obvious symptom is trouble breathing.
  • Additionally, if a child (or presumably an adult) seems to be getting better and then relapses with a high fever, bacterial pneumonia can be suspected.

DIAGNOSIS

• Physician may do/request:
  • History & Physical Exam
  • Laboratory tests

RECOMMENDED MEDICATIONS

• Rest, drink a lot of fluids, avoid alcohol and tobacco use.
• Medications like acetaminophen (paracetamol) for fever and pain relief.
  • Children and teenagers with flu symptoms (particularly fever) should not take aspirin during an influenza infection (especially influenza type B)
    • Might develop Reye’s syndrome – rare but potentially fatal liver disease
  • Antiviral medications
    • Neuraminidase inhibitors: oseltamivir, zanamivir
    • M2 protein inhibitors: amantadine, rimantadine