Symptoms and Complications of Influenza a in the Elderly Upon arrival at the Hospital
Abstract
Influenza A and B viruses cause epidemics every year, with approximately 3–5 million serious cases and about 300 thousand deaths worldwide. Most patients die from bacterial complications of influenza. The authors studied the course, laboratory findings, complications and causes of death in a set of 261 patients over the age of 65, of whom 218 were hospitalized and 43 were treated in an outpatient setting. Typical flu symptoms included fever, cough, general weakness, fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia, headache and chills. Patients who later developed complications had elevated values of CRP, procalcitonin, urea and creatinine. Of the bacterial agents, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae were most often involved in complications. The antiviral drug oseltamivir was administered to 226 of 261 seniors. 47 (18.01%) people died from influenza and its complications. The causes were severe pneumonia with acute respiratory insufficiency and severe heart failure. As an effective prevention of the development of diseases and complications, the authors recommend annual timely vaccination, optimally with a tetravalent influenza vaccine.
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