- introduction:Influenza
Influenza is an acute infectious viral disease, characterised by fever, severe body-ache, coryza, sore throat and severe prostration.
CLINICAL FEATURES
Symptoms
Duration: 7 days.
Onset:
Sudden.
Fever: Moderate to high with chills.
Headache.
Bodyache.
Bone pains.
Profound prostration.
Coryza.
Sore throat.
Cough, with or without expectoration.
Lachrymation.
Anorexia.
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Signs
Face: flushed.
Eyes: congested.
Throat: congested.
Temperature: 38 °C – 41 °C.
Pulse: Relative bradycardia.
COMPLICATIONS
Tracheitis, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia.
Otitis media.
Post influenzal asthenia.
Post influential depression.
Rare: Post influential demyelinating encephalopathy.
Post influential peripheral neuropathy.
Toxic Cardiomyopathy leading to sudden death.
INVESTIGATIONS
Blood:
TLC:
Leucopenia.
PROGNOSIS
- Good.
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
Complete bed rest during fever. In elderly patients convalescence may be prolonged. Plenty of fluids should be given to the patient. Well balanced, nutritive and easily digestible diet should be given.
PROPHYLACTIC MEASURES
Immediate:
Isolation. Avoid crowded places during epidemics, like cinema hall, school, etc.
Hygienic disposal of infected secretions.
Long term:
Immunisation.
Improve general health.
MEDICAL TREATMENT
Aconite: Precipitated by exposure to dry cold air, or chilling of body when warm and sweaty. Chilliness. Redness of the face. Pressing headache. Anxiety and restlessness. Skin dry, violent thirst, full bounding pulse. Sweating relieves (Allium cepa) Profuse catarrhal coryza. Sneezing, running nose and irritative cough. Face is swollen and looks inflamed.
Arsenicum album; Copious flow, prostration and paroxysmal coryza. There iz burning copious watery and excoriating secretion. Thirst for a small quantity of water. Acrid coryza dropping from the tip of the nose. Headache; worse from heat, better from cold applications. Better in the warmth of the bed. Great restlessness, anxiety worse at night. Langour and excessive exhaustion.
Belladonna: General dry heat with chills. Little or no thirst. Cold extremities and hot head. Throbbing headache. Eyes red and glistening.