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Influenza Case Study
1. Case Presentation / Case Report
Patient Demographics: Mr Everson McIntyre is a 35-year-old male weighing 160 pounds and
standing 5'9" tall. He works as an engineer and is of Caucasian ethnicity.
Patient History: Mr McIntyre presented to the clinic with an excessive fever, headache, muscle
aches, dry cough, fatigue, and nasal congestion. The patient had been experiencing these signs
and symptoms for over three days. He pronounced that his signs and symptoms had started
abruptly and had progressively worsened. He denied any recent tour or contact with a sick
person.
Clinical Examination: Physical examination of the body showed the patient had a temperature
of 102°F. Examination of the nose revealed nasal drainage and swollen mucous membranes
(Pichare and Nagoba). Mr McIntyre's throat showed redness. A Rapid Influenza test was
performed. The lab technician inserted a swab into the patient’s nose to acquire the sample. The
test result was obtained within ten minutes. An examination of the chest and lungs was done
using a Chest x-ray. His lung examination revealed a dry cough, scattered bibasilar crackles, and
focal wheezing (Pichare and Nagoba). Urinalysis was also done, and it revealed dehydration
signs.
Differential Diagnosis: The differential diagnosis for Mr McIntyre's symptoms included
parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses, COVID-19, pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and exacerbation
of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Pichare and Nagoba).
2. Management and Treatment
Planning: Mr McIntyre was diagnosed with influenza based on his clinical presentation and a
positive rapid influenza test. The care plan included symptomatic treatment with enough bed rest
and more hydration with fluids (Pichare and Nagoba). The patient was also prescribed fever-
reducing drugs. McIntyre was further admitted to the hospital to monitor his respiratory status
closely.
Treatment: Generally, a doctor will begin with an antiviral medication to fight the influenza-
causing virus. Mr McIntyre was prescribed oseltamivir (i.e., Tamiflu) for five days
(Pichare and Nagoba). Besides taking significant rest, the patient was informed to drink plenty of
fluids. Mr McIntyre was further urged to stay home and greatly reduce contact with other people
to impede the virus from disseminating.
Treatment Effects: Mr McIntyre indicated that his signs had notably improved after two days of
treatment with oseltamivir (Pichare and Nagoba). He also said that his cough had stopped, and
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his muscle aches and fever had subsided. In effect, he finished the entire dosage of oseltamivir
without any other incident(s).
How the Treatment Works: According to Kumar et al., oseltamivir antiviral medication works
by inhibiting the neuraminidase enzyme placed at the influenza virus surface. These enzymes
facilitate the virus's discharge from the host cell (832). Therefore, the drug attacks the flu-
causing virus to prevent it from multiplying in the patient’s body and infecting other physical
cells, decreasing the severity and length of flu signs and symptoms.
Advice: Mr McIntyre was instructed to continue with his oseltamivir treatment. The doctor
advised him to hydrate and have enough bed rest for some days. To forestall the virus from
spreading to the population, the physician directed him to practice regular hand hygiene and
cover his mouth sneezing (Pichare and Nagoba). McIntyre was further advised to follow up with
his primary care physician the subsequent week.
3. Special Information
Organism Characteristics: Researchers have a consensus that the Orthomyxoviridae family of
RNA viruses causes influenza viruses. These viruses are spherical enclosed particles measuring
90 to 120 in width (Pichare and Nagoba). The enclosed particle has a hemagglutinin protein and
neuraminidase attached to it.
https://humansandviruses.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/orthomyxoviridae/

According to Kumar et al., the combination of the surface proteins hemagglutinin (H) and
neuraminidase (N) distinguishes each subtype of influenza viruses (837). Based on the surface
proteins that the virus has, they may be separated into three businesses (A, B, and C).
Nonetheless, the virus also possesses a lipid envelope and a spherical form with a diameter of
around a hundred nm (Chow et al. 214).
Pathogenicity: Typically, the virus is passed from one individual to another, mainly via droplets
discharged by sneezing. The inhaled virus penetrates the lower respiratory, and the
tracheobronchial tree is the illness's main site. The neuraminidase attached to the enclosed
particles may trigger the N-acetylneuraminic acid deposits in mucus to generate liquefied mucus,
which may assist in disseminating the virus via the respiratory tract (Pichare and Nagoba).
Subsequently, the virus can damage cells directly or indirectly by triggering an inflammatory
response that causes symptoms like fever, coughing, and muscle aches (Kumar et al. 841). In
severe cases, the virus can result in pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS),
according to Chow et al. (214).
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Epidemiology: Influenza typifies a relatively contagious respiration illness spread through

respiration droplets while an inflamed person coughs or sneezes (Chow et al. 214). A patient can
also contract the virus by touching a contaminated surface and his or her face. It also can be
contacted by touching a surface infected with the virus and then touching the mouth, nostril, or
eyes (Kumar et al. 833). Influenza outbreaks occur seasonally, with the highest incidence during
the winter months in temperate regions.
New Research: The Article: “Outcomes of Early Oseltamivir Treatment for Hospitalized Adult
Patients with Community-Acquired Influenza Pneumonia” by Kositpantawong, Narongdet, et al.
One of the latest studies focusing on assessing the effect of early oseltamivir treatment on adult
in-patients diagnosed with community-acquired influenza pneumonia was published in PLoS
ONE in December 2021. Essentially, the research diagnosed that early treatment with oseltamivir
within the first forty-eight hours of hospitalization was related to a low danger of ICU admission,
mechanical ventilation, and mortality. Kositpantawong et al. also observed that early oseltamivir
treatment decreased the length of medical institution stay and the period of fever in people
diagnosed with community-acquired influenza pneumonia. Nevertheless, the research did not
find a substantially lower risk of bacterial co-contamination or secondary infections with early
oseltamivir treatment. Overall, this article exemplifies the significance of early detection and
treatment of influenza pneumonia among hospitalized sufferers since it can substantially enhance
outcomes while decreasing the cost associated with the provision of healthcare services.
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Works Cited
Chow, EJ, Doyle, JD, and Uyeki TM. Influenza virus-related critical illness: prevention,
diagnosis, treatment. Critical Care. 2019 Jun 12;23(1):214.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-019-2491-9. PMID: 31189475; PMCID: PMC6563376.
Kositpantawong, Narongdet, et al. “Outcomes of Early Oseltamivir Treatment for Hospitalized
Adult Patients with Community-Acquired Influenza Pneumonia.” PLoS ONE, vol. 16, no.
12, 2021, p. e0261411, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8673668/,
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0261411.
Kumar, Binod, et al. “The Emerging Influenza Virus Threat: Status and New Prospects for Its
Therapy and Control.” Archives of Virology, vol. 163, no. 4, 2018, pp. 831–844,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-018-3708-y.
Pichare, Asha, and Nagoba, B. S.. Medical Microbiology and Parasitology PMFU 4th Edition-E-
book.  2020, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8611/.