1. patient care – 700 words
Running head: DISCUSSION 1 Treatment for Influenza Type A Name Course Professor Date
DISCUSSION 2 Week 2: Part Two: Case Study Follow Up Visit Discussion REQUIREMENTS:
Michelle continues to work in the bakery and her asthma has been well controlled on a low-
dose inhaled corticosteroid inhaler, Singular 10mg daily, and Albuterol prn which she uses
1-2 times per week. Michelle presents to the clinic with an acute illness that developed 2
days ago and has a respiratory rate of 24, mild SOB with exertion, O2 saturation of 94%, and
complaint of inspiratory and expiratory wheezing. She is able to speak and states her
temperature over the last 2 days has been 101 to 102 F. Cough is productive of white
sputum. Influenza A is going around the bakery. Exam findings show a woman who appears
her stated age and is alert and oriented and though calm, is having mild work of breathing.
AR 110 BPM, BP is 150/85, RR: 24, Temp 101.4. She has a nonproductive, dry cough, is
mildly short of breath, fair chest expansion, + inspiratory/expiratory wheezes, no rales, no
rhonchi. Auscultation reveals no thrills, gallops or extra heart sounds. Apical rate is elevated
at 110. Physical exam is otherwise unremarkable. The MA has swabbed her for Influenza A-
test is positive. Discussion Questions Part Two: Determine appropriate treatment plan for
Michelle. Discuss medications, doses, Durable Medical Equipment, and any testing, and
apply these directly to her case. Provide your rationale with evidence. Decide whether she is
safe to return home, include any prescriptions, or if a referral to a higher level of care is
required. Discuss the criteria used to make your decision, how a referral is made and defend
your position. Discuss relevant education and follow up plan. 12 days ago REQUIREMENTS
Treatment For Influenza Type A Discussion question 1 Type A influenza is nothing but a
normal flu, only distinguished by the degree of infection as well as the gravity of the
symptoms. Therefore, the most appropriate treatment method at the elementary level of
the infection is the prescription of the intake of plentiful fluids as well as sufficient bed rest.
Conversely, the state of Michelle dictates that the doctor DISCUSSION 3 or physician
prescribes something more than just rest and fluids. Essentially, the symptoms portrayed
by the colleagues of the patient indicate that her symptoms are way more advanced than
the normal influenza infection. Therefore, she must be placed on serious antibiotics to
reduce the predominance of the disease as well as to reduce the possibility of further
infection. The most prevalent antibiotics for the diseases is the prescription of antiviral
medication to curb infections as well as to shorten the period of illness. Antibiotics such as
oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) have been proven to be extremely effectively
with respect to curbing further infection as well as shortening the viral life of the pathogens

2. causing the illness. However, these antibiotics are only effective in the instance that they are
applied immediately or shortly after the period of infection. In the case of Michelle, the best
bet is the application of oseltamivir (Tamiflu). Whereas zanamivir (Relenza) is also a good
option, Michelle’s case shuns it entirely due to its model of administration. Unlike
oseltamivir (Tamiflu) which is administered orally, zanamivir (Relenza) is inhaled through
devices akin to the inhaler. Therefore patients suffering from other respiratory
complications such as asthma are discouraged from having such. Further, these antiviral
medications are very effective, although they do not come without their fair share of
complications and side effects. For instance, they have been associated been nausea and
vomiting. Besides, the side effects may be managed effectively through taking those drugs
with food, or after having serious meals (Chow et al., 2019). Finally, the complications also
include delirium and in some teenage cases, thoughts and acts of self-harm. Traditionally,
the most appropriate drugs for the diseases included amantadine and rimantadine
(Flumadine), which have since been side-lined due to the emergent cases of resistance and
non-responsiveness. DISCUSSION 4 When dealing with influenza, medical practitioners
must apply relevant medical equipment in handling the cases. For instance they must use
respiratory protective gear such as N95 filtering face piece respirators, personal powered
air-purifying respirators as well as other personal protective equipment to protect
themselves from respiratory diseases. The dosage for Michelle is LAIV, which is supplied in
a prefilled sprayer that holds 0.2 mL of vaccine. Approximately 0.1 mL is introduced into the
first nostril while the recipient is in the upright position. Finally, the physicians use
deductive tests to diagnose influenza, spanning from observational tests to laboratory test.
The most common of them all is the rapid influenza diagnostic test that deduces the ailment
from the symptoms presented. Discussion question 2 Upon diagnosis and subsequent
treatment, the doctors may need to retain her for further observation and treatment.
Essentially, a normal case of Influenza type A is dealt with immediately with the option of
discharge for home care. Still, considering the extent to which Michelle is infected, the most
viable move for both the physician and patient remains the committal to inpatient care for
further observation and treatment (Eisfeld et al., 2015). The option of referral is only
applicable in the instance that the case is beyond the capabilities of the doctors and
practitioners at the facility. Further, the only option for making a referral would be in the
instance that the facility in question lacks the infrastructure as well as the facilities and
equipment to handle the case in question. Nonetheless, in the case of Michelle, this is not the
case since her instance is not fatal. Her case does not require specialized medical equipment
for intervention. Unless the doctors would require further tests, whose equipment are not
available in the hospital, she is perfectly able to be treated in the said facility. Further, the
strain of influenza that she is diagnosed with does not require specialized care and as such,
the doctors, physicians and practitioners in the facilities are DISCUSSION 5 perfectly
capable of handling her case. She is therefore a candidate of either admission within the
facility for further observation or discharge for home care and treatment options.
Discussion question 3 Also known as the flu, influenza is a common ailment that attacks the
respiratory system, through the introduction of viral pathogens within the respiratory tract.
The attacks specifically target the throat, nose as well as lungs of the individuals. Notably,

3. caution has to be exercised in distinguishing it from the stomach flu that causes massive
vomiting and diarrhoea. Normally, influenza is mild and more often than not, resolves itself
without the involvement of medical interventions. It is only the severe cases that require
the input of medical practitioners. However, some instances present dire cases of the flu,
which may turn out to be fatal. There are classes of individuals who are more prone to the
infection than others, especially the fatal strains of the disease (Dobson et al., 2015). These
classes include children below the age of five, older members of the society professing an
age more advanced than the age of 65, individuals who have been committed to nursing
homes as well as institutions that board them for long periods for time and individuals who
naturally have a weakened immune system. To ascertain that an individual is suffering from
the flu, there are some symptoms that are associated with the disease. For instance, the
infection comes with a fever of over 100.4 F (38 C), aching muscles, headaches, chills and
sweats, nasal congestion, a dry persistent cough, as well as a sore throat and fatigue and
weakness. The best way to deal with the ailment is the exposure to the Influenza vaccine
during the formative years of life (Dobson et al., 2015). Still, the vaccine is not entirely
effective since there are some symptoms that override it. Therefore, individuals must
acquaint themselves with home care strategies for DISCUSSION dealing with the infection.
In cases that go beyond the normal expectations the patients are advised to see qualifies
doctors and physicians. 6 DISCUSSION 7 References Chow, E. J., Doyle, J. D., & Uyeki, T. M.
(2019). Influenza virus-related critical illness: prevention, diagnosis, treatment. Critical
Care, 23(1), 214. Dobson, J., Whitley, R. J., Pocock, S., & Monto, A. S. (2015). Oseltamivir
treatment for influenza in adults: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. The
Lancet, 385(9979), 1729-1737. Eisfeld, A. J., Neumann, G., & Kawaoka, Y. (2015). At the
centre: influenza A virus ribonucleoproteins. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 13(1), 28.