[Influenza: the reemergence of an ancient disease and its risk of pandemia].
Influenza is a seasonally, acute respiratory disease, highly transmissible. The diversity of the natural reservoirs of influenza A virus and its faculty of reassortment increase the risk of a new pandemia. Prevention strategies during the outbreaks include vaccination indicated to risk population as infants between 6 to 2 years old, persons above 65 years old, pregnant women and patients with underlying diseases. Antiviral prophylaxis is useful to control small outbreaks and to be used in household contacts of risk population who have not been vaccinated. Antiviral drugs as a treatment should be considered in persons with severe disease. During a pandemia these prevention measures must be reinforced and rational use of antiviral drugs and vaccine with the pandemic strain should be emphasized.
Jofré
Leonor
L
Comité de Infecciones Emergentes, Sociedad Chilena de Infectología, Chile. ljofre@ns.hospital.uchile.cl
Perret
Cecilia
C
Dabanch
Jeannette
J
Abarca
Katia
K
Olivares
Roberto
R
Luchsinger
Vivian
V
Aguilera
Ximena
X
Sotomayor
Viviana
V
Olea
Andrea
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009980:Influenza A virus; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines