Influenza: Case Study #1

Mrs. Smith is a normally very healthy 36 year-old mother of two young children. She calls your office to say she has the flu because she feels very weak and tired, aches all over, has a fever and a dry, non-productive cough. She felt fine after picking her kids up at school, but as she drove home and got out of the car she describes experiencing a sudden onset of profound malaise.

For each question, one or more answers may be correct.

Question 1

Does she have flu?

A) yes, almost definitely

B) probably yes

C) probably no

D) definitely no

Question 2

What do you tell her to do?

A) Stay in a warm environment (this is different from "staying warm").

B) Drink lots of fluids

C) Take acetaminophen for pain, but not for low grade fever.

D) Take cough suppressant

E) Rest (tough for a mother)

A patient information sheet is available. Physicians are granted permission to copy and disseminate the sheet to their patients.

Question 3

Should she see you, and if so, when?

A) No need to be seen, she should start feeling better in 3-5 days

B) Call or come in if she gets much worse in the next few days.

C) Come in if she is getting better after 3-5 days and then starts to get worse and begins to produce purulent sputum

D) Come in today

Question 4

Mrs. Smith tells you that her high school reunion is 4 days from today and she really wants to go. What will you tell her?

A) She should be okay by then. Plan to go.

B) She should not go for her classmates sake.

C) She should not go for her own sake.

D) I can prescribe a drug that may shorten the duration of your illness.

Here is a summary of Uncomplicated Rhinotracheitis.

Click here for Case Study #2.