Influenza diagnosis and management

Abstract

Influenza is already an important cause of illness and death each year in Australia and the impact of future pandemics will be many times greater. Compared with other respiratory viral illnesses, influenza is more severe in itself as well as being more likely to result in complications. These range from milder conditions such as otitis media and sinusitis to acute bronchitis, viral pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia. There are also a number of less common non-respiratory complications, including myocarditis, encephalitis, rhabdomyolysis and nephritis. In addition, a substantial component of severe disease and death from influenza is due to exacerbations of pre-existing cardiac conditions, respiratory disease or diabetes. Accurate diagnosis is the basis of the proper management of patients, understanding of the epidemiology of this virus, and detecting the entry and spread of new influenza strains.