[Clinical symptoms of influenza infection in the 2002-2003 season].
The highest body temperature and clinical symptoms during the influenza infection were analyzed on 2,145 patients with influenza, (type A: 1,408cases, type B: 737cases: confirmed by a rapid diagnosis kit, Capilia FluA, B), and for 670 patients with a negative response to the rapid diagnosis kit (controls). The study was a multi-center study of the 2002-2003 influenza season. The percentages of patients with fever over 38 degrees C, 38.5 degrees C and 39 degrees C were significantly higher in influenza A than in influenza B or controls (16-64 yrs). Over 80% of the patients in all age groups of 0-6 yrs, 7-15 yrs, 16-64 yrs or over 64 yrs with influenza A or B had a cough. The percentage of patients with cough was significantly higher for patients with influenza A or B than for controls under 65 yrs. The percentages of influenza A or B patients with rhinorrhea or loss of appetite were significantly higher than in controls under 65 yrs. The percentage of patients reporting fatigue, headache or myalgia was significantly higher for influenza A than for controls of 16-64 yrs. Differences in symptoms, including fever, were minimal between influenza A and B patients under 16 yrs, and also among influenza A, B and controls in patients over 64 yrs. The percentage of patients with cough was not different among the three age groups by influenza A or B. However, the percentage of patients with rhinorrhea, loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea was higher in children under 16 yrs than in adults aged 16-64 yrs in influenza A or B. In conclusion, consideration must be given to the patient's age and the type of influenza when doing a symptomatic diagnosis of influenza. In addition, the use of a rapid diagnosis kit seems necessary for the diagnosis of influenza in elderly patients, who may have no specific symptoms of influenza.
Japan Physicians Association.
Naoki
N
Kawai
Norio
N
Iwaki
Takashi
T
Kawashima
Ietaka
I
Satoh
Takeshi
T
Shigematsu
Kunio
K
Kondoh
Tetsunari
T
Maeda
Hideo
H
Kanazawa
Nobuo
N
Hirotsu
Kiyomitsu
K
Miyachi
Osamu
O
Kunishima
Hideyuki
H
Ikematsu
Seizaburo
S
Kashiwagi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001831:Body Temperature; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009980:Influenza A virus; D009981:Influenza B virus; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012621:Seasons
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic