SwineFlu-1 influenza

Influenza season typically peaks in the United States during the Jan-Feb months and can start as early as October. You can read about the 2011-12 seasonal flu data on the CDC website.

Should you give a patient with influenza an antiviral agent or just provide supportive therapy?

This Paucis Verbis card summaries the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for this upcoming 2011-12 flu season. I also let patients with uncomplicated influenza who are going to be managed as outpatients know that a 5-day course of osteltamivir or zanamivir will cost them about $50-80. Often that sways them towards declining a prescription and “toughing out” an extra day of the flu.

PV Card: Influenza


Adapted from [1] Go to ALiEM (PV) Cards for more resources.

Reference

  1. Centers for. Infectious disease. Antiviral agents for the treatment and chemoprophylaxis of influenza. Ann Emerg Med. 2011;58(3):299-303; discussion 303-4. [PubMed]
Michelle Lin, MD
ALiEM Founder and CEO
Professor and Digital Innovation Lab Director
Department of Emergency Medicine
University of California, San Francisco
Michelle Lin, MD

@M_Lin

Professor of Emerg Med at UCSF-Zuckerberg SF General. ALiEM Founder @aliemteam #PostitPearls at https://t.co/50EapJORCa Bio: https://t.co/7v7cgJqNEn
Michelle Lin, MD