Flu Diagnosis for 34-Year-Old Male With Chronic Diabetes - Research Paper

Introduction

Mr. Joe is a 34-year-old male that was admitted in the local hospital. Mr. Joe has a complaint of cough, runny nose, and sore throat and has type 2 diabetes as a chronic condition. When Mr. Joe was admitted to the hospital, the tests that were performed include the rapid flu/strep test and A1C drawn.

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Since the symptoms of influenza are different from those of the common cold, the diagnosis was quick. The following symptoms are for flu: body aches and a generalized soreness, but more marked in the back and legs; a running nose or an embarrassment of nasal breathing; extreme tiredness; high fever, sore throat, severe headaches, nausea and possibly vomiting; a burning sensation in the chest, and a dry cough that then produces sputum.

The symptoms of flu are the same regardless of the type of influenza virus. The only way to know what type of influenza virus the flu was by performing a rapid flu test. The test analyzes the genetic material of the virus by collecting nasal secretion. Other tests that were done include a rapid test streptococcus (TDR) to seek an infection with streptococcus, blood cultures (layout Culture of blood) to look for bacterial blood infections, a research VRS (virus RSV, a virus affecting often children and the elderly) or a culture of sputum or bronchial origin to search for a bacterial and / or fungal cause of a respiratory infection. According to the symptoms, Joe is most likely suffering from a flu.

Flu can sometimes look like a big cold, so it's hard to diagnose. The most commonly found symptoms are usually acute fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and fever. In addition, sore throat, dry cough, and irritated eyelids are also symptoms. Interrogation and clinical examination are usually sufficient for the physician to discuss the diagnosis (Abraham, Perkins, Vilke, & Coyne, 2016). The verbal exchange between the patent and the physician is usually enough to make the diagnosis. When the flu is suspected, the doctor can make a general examination of the eyes, ears, throat for lymph nodes, and auscultation of the lungs and heart. During the consultation, the doctor will also look for complications of the flu such as superinfection in the sinuses, lungs or ears.

Infection of influenza virus, when associated with the existence of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, can become a risk factor, generating a situation known as comorbidity, i.e. when there is pathology in an individual already with another disease, with the possibility in both cases, requiring immediate medical attention. With decreased immune response in patients with this profile, influenza can produce secondary pathological effects, leading to a destabilization of health and glycemic control of the patient, leading to complications and the need for hospitalization (Dugas, Valsamakis, Atreya, Thind, Manchego, Faisal, & Rothman, 2015). Signs and symptoms of influenza include Acute airway infection that is feverish (temperature 37.8 C), with the thermal curve, usually declining after two or three days and normalizing around the sixth day of evolution. Other signs and symptoms are usually sudden onsets, such as chills, malaise, headache, myalgia, sore throat, arthralgia, prostration, rhinorrhea, and dry cough among others.

The flu is a virus and therefore can not be treated with antibiotics. Instead, it is mainly to decrease the symptoms and to avoid aggravation following dehydration. The pharmacological measures that have been indicated as of possible utility to limit the impact of influenza are antiviral drugs (neuraminidase inhibitors) and influenza and pneumococcal vaccines since it is well known that influenza predisposes to bacterial pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumonia (Abraham et al., 2016). Neuraminidase inhibitors have been shown to be effective for the treatment of acute influenza A and B virus infection when administered within the first 24-48 hours of the onset of the clinical picture, reducing symptoms approximately in two days. When administered as prophylaxis, the effectiveness in reducing the incidence of influenza in exposed persons depending on the characteristics of the area in which it is administered (Abraham et al., 2016). The use of Oseltamivir antiviral phosphate is indicated for all cases of the severe acute respiratory syndrome and flu-like cases with conditions and risk factors for complications (Uyeki, Bernstein, Bradley, Englund, File, Fry, & Ison, 2018). The medicine is prescribed in a simple prescription and is available in the Unified Health System. Initiation of treatment should preferably be within the first 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. Antiviral has benefits even if given 48 hours after symptom onset.

Non-pharmacological measures that can be used to mitigate the impact of the pandemic in terms of morbidity and mortality include, among others, compliance with the rules of hand hygiene, keeping healthy habits (eating well and plenty of vegetables and fruits and drinking lots of water) and respiratory hygiene (Verger, Bocquier, Vergelys, Ward, & Peretti-Watel, 2018). Non-pharmacological treatments include medicinal plant therapies such as licorice roots, North American Ginseng, elderberry, Echinacea, pomegranate, which have been shown to be effective in treating upper respiratory tract infections. Supplements such as zinc, selenium, and vitamin C have a supporting effect against respiratory viruses (recommendation grade D). Oseltamivir and zanamivir, antiviral drugs, are sometimes used to treat influenza (Uyeki et al., 2018). These medications can help shorten the duration of the flu and alleviate symptoms and work best if taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Antiviral drugs are also used to prevent flu for people who have been in close contact with someone with the flu, such as those who live in the same home. In general, this measure is not recommended for most people; however, antivirals may be recommended for Joe.

References

Abraham, M. K., Perkins, J., Vilke, G. M., & Coyne, C. J. (2016). Influenza in the emergency department: vaccination, diagnosis, and treatment: clinical practice paper approved by the American Academy of Emergency Medicine Clinical Guidelines Committee. The Journal of emergency medicine, 50(3), 536-542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2015.10.013

Dugas, A. F., Valsamakis, A., Atreya, M. R., Thind, K., Manchego, P. A., Faisal, A., & Rothman, R. E. (2015). Clinical diagnosis of influenza in the ED. The American journal of emergency medicine, 33(6), 770-775. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2015.03.008

Uyeki, T. M., Bernstein, H. H., Bradley, J. S., Englund, J. A., File Jr, T. M., Fry, A. M., & Ison, M. G. (2018). Clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America: 2018 update on diagnosis, treatment, chemoprophylaxis, and institutional outbreak management of seasonal influenza. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 68(6), e1-e47. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciy866

Verger, P., Bocquier, A., Vergelys, C., Ward, J., & Peretti-Watel, P. (2018). Flu vaccination among patients with diabetes: motives, perceptions, trust, and risk culture-a qualitative survey. BMC public health, 18(1), 569. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186%2Fs12889-018-5441-6