Key Concepts & Virus Basics
This contagious respiratory illness is caused by influenza viruses and spreads easily from person to person.
What is influenza (the flu)?
This is the main route of influenza transmission, passing from one person to another
What is person-to-person transmission?
Influenza is known for this kind of onset, with symptoms appearing quickly rather than gradually.
What is a sudden onset?
Antivirals such as Tamiflu are only effective when started within this time frame.
What is the first 48 hours?
When caring for a client with influenza, the nurse uses this type of precaution.
What are droplet precautions?
These are the two main types of influenza virus that cause seasonal flu, each with different subtypes.
What are Types A and B?
These tiny droplets, released when a person talks, coughs, or sneezes, carry the virus to others.
What are respiratory aerosol droplets?
Along with chills, body aches, and cough, this elevated temperature is a classic flu symptom.
What is fever?
This common antiviral medication is used to treat influenza.
What is Tamiflu?
The nurse must screen for this allergy before administering the Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine (TIV), since it can trigger a severe, life-threatening anaphylactic reaction.
What is an egg allergy?
This is the time between exposure to the virus and the start of symptoms — 1 to 4 days for influenza.
What is the incubation period?
Because the virus can survive on inanimate objects, the flu can also spread through this route.
What is contact (with contaminated surfaces)?
This rapid diagnostic test (RIDIT) delivers results in 10 to 15 minutes.
What is the Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Test?
This OTC medication is recommended for fever and body aches in flu clients.
What is Tylenol?
This vaccine type is the most common and is given by injection.
What is the Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (IIV)?
This class of medication fights viral infections and works best when started early.
What is an antiviral?
This age group is at the highest risk for complications and death from influenza.
What are adults over 65 years of age?
This diagnostic test delivers results in 15 to 20 minutes.
What is the Rapid Molecular Assay?
These OTC medications cause vasoconstriction and should be avoided in clients with hypertension.
What are decongestants?
This vaccine type is given as a nasal spray and is only for healthy, non-pregnant individuals aged 2 to 49.
What is the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV)?
Because the flu is this kind of infection, antibiotics will not treat it.
What is a viral infection?
Clients with asthma, diabetes, HIV, or AIDS fall into this high-risk category.
What is immunocompromised?
If flu symptoms worsen, the nurse watches for progression to this respiratory complication, as well as ear and sinus infections.
What is pneumonia?
These medications will NOT treat the flu because influenza is viral, not bacterial.
What are antibiotics?
This is the reason annual flu vaccination is necessary — the prevalent viruses shift each year.
What is that the composition of the influenza vaccine changes yearly?