title: Clinical features of avian influenza in Egyptian patients.
abstract: The clinical manifestations associated with H5N1 infection in humans range from asymptomatic infection to mild upper respiratory illness, severe pneumonia, and multiple organ failure. The ratio of symptomatic cases to asymptomatic cases is not known, because it is not possible to precisely define the number of asymptomatic cases. A total of 97 cases suffering from avian flu were suspected based on history taking, demographic data, clinical manifestations, laboratory and radiological investigations. The followings were done for all cases; complete blood picture (differential leucocytic count), coagulation profile, renal and liver function tests. H5N1 influenza virus was diagnosed thorough PCR technique. Changes in arterial blood gases and repeated chest X-rays were reported frequently. All patients were given specific antiviral therapy (oseltamivir). The study described the clinical picture and laboratory results of 81 confirmed avian influenza human cases in an Egyptian hospital (Abassia chest hospital), and reviewed the avian influenza current situation covering from March 2006 to June 2009 with very high pick in the first half of 2009. The significant apparent symptoms were fever as initial and main symptom (93.75%), followed by shortness of breathing (73%), cough (66.6%), muscle & joint pain (60%) and sore throat (40%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Maamoun Mohamad
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ashour
authors.forename: Adel Mahmoud
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Khatab
authors.forename: Runia Fouad
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: El-Folly
authors.forename: Wegdan Ahmad Fouad
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Amer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult