An Insight about Management of Influenza virus

Abstract

Influenza manifests with the abrupt onset of symptoms following an incubation period of 1 to 2 days. Mainly, these symptoms are systemic and consist of fever sensation, true chills, headache, severe myalgia, malaise, and anorexia. Mostly headache, myalgia, and fever determine the severity of the disease if they are more prominent. Most of the influenza cases are diagnosed by their clinical manifestations and there is no need for laboratory tests except in certain circumstances the diagnosis of flu needs laboratory confirmation using available tests such as nucleic acid tests (e.g., polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or rapid diagnosis kits or rarely virus isolation by culture methods. Amantadine was the first antiviral drug used in the treatment of influenza. It is effective against influenza A. This drug inhibits viral replication by blocking the A/M2 proton channel specific to influenza A virus. Neuraminidase inhibitors are now first line treatment for both influenza A and B worldwide. They competitively inhibit neuraminidase on the surface of influenza A and B. They act by preventing cleavage of sialic acid residues on budding newly formed virus particles thus preventing release of new virus particles from infected host cells. With a pandemic of a novel strain of influenza in 2009 new anti-influenza agents were approved for use initiating a new phase in the field of influenza treatment. The biggest feature of these new drugs is that a single intravenous dose or inhalation is sufficient to achieve efficacy. The challenge is how best to prescribe antibiotics and other agents to complement the use of these drugs. Recent recommendation for the management of influenza also provides the clinical indications for favipiravir (trade name: Avigan). Favipiravir exhibits a forceful antiviral effect owing to its inhibition of viral replication. More attention goes to this drug because of reports of its indication for the treatment of Ebola hemorrhagic fever and SARS-CoV-2 which is caused by an RNA virus as well. As a result of its side effects such as hyperuricemia, strict adherence to its clinical indication on prescribtion shoyld be taken in consideration