Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of influenza: current and future options.
Because influenza significantly affects the health of children, this review describes the current and future options for preventing, diagnosing, and treating influenza infections. Currently, the inactivated influenza vaccine is recommended for prevention of influenza; however, the live, attenuated, intranasal influenza vaccine is a potential future option. For diagnosis, viral culture is the gold standard, although four rapid diagnostic tests are available for more immediate results. The impetus for rapid results is the availability of effective antiviral agents indicated for early influenza infection. The four currently approved antiviral agents are amantadine, rimantadine, zanamivir [Relenza, Glaxo Wellcome, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC] and oseltamivir [Tamiflu, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Nutley, NJ]. The indications, benefits, side effects and ages for which each drug is approved are reviewed.
Poehling
K A
KA
Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA. kathryn.edwards@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
Edwards
K M
KM
D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D009439:Neuraminidase