Influenza medical therapy: Difference between revisions
Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
==Medical Therapy== | ==Medical Therapy== | ||
===Antiviral Medications=== | ===Antiviral Medications=== | ||
*Antiviral medications with activity against influenza viruses are an important adjunct to influenza vaccine in the control of influenza. | *Antiviral medications with activity against influenza viruses are an important adjunct to [[influenza vaccine]] in the control of influenza. | ||
*Influenza antiviral prescription drugs can be used to treat influenza or to prevent influenza. | *Influenza antiviral prescription drugs can be used to treat influenza or to prevent influenza. | ||
* Four licensed prescription influenza antiviral agents are available in the United States. | * Four licensed prescription influenza antiviral agents are available in the United States. | ||
* Two FDA-approved influenza antiviral medications are recommended for use in the United States during the 2013-2014 influenza season: | * Two FDA-approved influenza antiviral medications are recommended for use in the United States during the 2013-2014 influenza season: | ||
:*Oral oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) | :*Oral [[oseltamivir]] (Tamiflu®) | ||
:*Inhaled zanamivir (Relenza®) | :*Inhaled [[zanamivir]] (Relenza®) | ||
*Oseltamivir and zanamivir are chemically related antiviral medications known as neuraminidase inhibitors that have activity against both influenza A and B viruses. | *[[Oseltamivir]] and [[zanamivir]] are chemically related antiviral medications known as neuraminidase inhibitors that have activity against both influenza A and B viruses. | ||
*Amantadine and rimantadine are antiviral drugs in a class of medications known as adamantanes. | *[[Amantadine]] and [[rimantadine]] are antiviral drugs in a class of medications known as adamantanes. | ||
* | *Adamantanes are active against influenza A viruses, but not influenza B viruses. | ||
====Drug Resistance==== | |||
*Antiviral resistance to oseltamivir and zanamivir among circulating influenza viruses is currently low, but this might change. | *Antiviral resistance to [[oseltamivir]] and [[zanamivir]] among circulating influenza viruses is currently low, but this might change. | ||
*Also, antiviral resistance can emerge during or after treatment in certain patients, such as immunosuppressed individuals. | *Also, antiviral resistance can emerge during or after treatment in certain patients, such as immunosuppressed individuals. | ||
*As in recent past seasons, there is a high prevalence (>99%) of influenza A(H3N2) and influenza A(H1N1) (2009 H1N1) viruses resistant to adamantanes. | |||
*Therefore, [[amantadine]] and [[rimantadine]] are not recommended for antiviral treatment or chemoprophylaxis of currently circulating influenza A viruses. | |||
===Antiviral Medications Recommended for Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis of Influenza === | ===Antiviral Medications Recommended for Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis of Influenza === |
Revision as of 15:30, 24 October 2014
Influenza Microchapters |
Diagnosis |
---|
Treatment |
Case Studies |
Influenza medical therapy On the Web |
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Influenza medical therapy |
Risk calculators and risk factors for Influenza medical therapy |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Alejandro Lemor, M.D. [2]
Overview
Medical Therapy
Antiviral Medications
- Antiviral medications with activity against influenza viruses are an important adjunct to influenza vaccine in the control of influenza.
- Influenza antiviral prescription drugs can be used to treat influenza or to prevent influenza.
- Four licensed prescription influenza antiviral agents are available in the United States.
- Two FDA-approved influenza antiviral medications are recommended for use in the United States during the 2013-2014 influenza season:
- Oral oseltamivir (Tamiflu®)
- Inhaled zanamivir (Relenza®)
- Oseltamivir and zanamivir are chemically related antiviral medications known as neuraminidase inhibitors that have activity against both influenza A and B viruses.
- Amantadine and rimantadine are antiviral drugs in a class of medications known as adamantanes.
- Adamantanes are active against influenza A viruses, but not influenza B viruses.
Drug Resistance
- Antiviral resistance to oseltamivir and zanamivir among circulating influenza viruses is currently low, but this might change.
- Also, antiviral resistance can emerge during or after treatment in certain patients, such as immunosuppressed individuals.
- As in recent past seasons, there is a high prevalence (>99%) of influenza A(H3N2) and influenza A(H1N1) (2009 H1N1) viruses resistant to adamantanes.
- Therefore, amantadine and rimantadine are not recommended for antiviral treatment or chemoprophylaxis of currently circulating influenza A viruses.
Antiviral Medications Recommended for Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis of Influenza
Antiviral Agent | Activity Against | Use | Recommended For | Not Recommended for Use in | Adverse Reactions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) | Influenza A and B | Treatment | Any age | N/A | Nausea, vomiting. Sporadic, transient neuropsychiatric events (self injury or delirium) mainly reported among Japanese adolescents and adults. |
Prophylaxis | > 3 months of age | N/A | |||
Zanamivir (Relenza®) | Influenza A and B | Treatment | > 7 years old | Patients with underlying respiratory disease, such as asthma or COPD | Allergic reactions such as oropharyngeal or facial edema. Diarrhea, nausea, sinusitis, nasal signs and symptoms, bronchitis, cough, headache, dizziness, and ear, nose and throat infections. |
Prophylaxis | > 5 years old | Patients with underlying respiratory disease, such as asthma or COPD | |||
Table adapted from CDC [1] |
Symptomatic Therapy
Over the counter (OTC) medicines may be taken to relieve influenza symptoms, but they do not affect the virus. [2]
Symptom(s) | OTC Medicine |
---|---|
Fever, Aches, Pains, Sinus pressure, Sore throat | Analgesics |
Nasal congestion, Sinus pressure | Decongestants |
Sinus pressure, Runny nose, Watery eyes, Cough | Antihistamines |
Cough | Cough suppressant |
Sore throat | Local anesthetics |
- Children and teenagers with flu symptoms (particularly fever) should avoid taking aspirin as taking aspirin in the presence of influenza infection (especially Influenzavirus B) can lead to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease of the liver.[3]
Unconventional treatment
Homeopathic and other cold and flu remedies that fail to meet the regulatory requirements as drugs that treat disease, or the standards of evidence-based medicine, are sold as nutritional supplements.
They may be based on extracts of living things, but may lack documentation of their safety and effectiveness.
References
- ↑ "Cold and Flu Guidelines: Influenza". American Lung Association. Retrieved 2007-09-16.
- ↑ Molotsky, Irvin (1986-02-15). "Consumer Saturday - Warning on Flu and Aspirin". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-05-25.