Influenza-like illness. Therapeutic experience in family medicine

Abstract

Background: influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Surveillance in Mexico is based on the detection of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and antiviral treatment should begin within 48 hours to avoid the main complication, pneumonia. The aim was to describe the experience on treatment of the ILI in a family medicine unit.

Methods: a descriptive study included patients presented to the emergency room with ILI (38ºC fever, headache and cough accompanied by other symptoms). We reviewed the reporting formats of Influenza. To follow up, contact them by telephone. Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation.

Results: there were 537 patients attended with diagnosis of upper airway infection, 1.3 % met criteria for ILI. 85.7 % were men. The mean age was 18 ± 24.21 years. The patients were seen in a mean time of 19.14 hours after the symptoms have started; 100 % of the patients received treatment with oseltamivir and zanamivir; 14.3 % developed pneumonia. All the patients recovered without concomitant disease or complications.

Conclusions: The use of a protocol in patients with influenza in a family medicine unit led an early diagnosis and treatment that favored the patients’ health restoration.