Chemotherapeutic control of influenza

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Abstract
Influenza is an important epidemic and pandemic viral illness with over 26,000 deaths attributed to the last major outbreak in England and Wales in 1989–90.1 It produces an acute febrile respiratory illness with cough, headache and myalgia for 3–4 days with symptoms that may persist for up to 2 weeks.2 The majority of deaths, usually in patients of 65 years or older, are caused by pneumonia or the exacerbation of pre-existing cardiopulmonary conditions. Primary viral and secondary bacterial pneumonia with Staphylococcus aureus,Haemophilus influenzae or Streptococcus pneumoniae may occur.2 ,3 Diagnosis is made on clinical grounds with laboratory confirmation by serology, direct immunofluorescence or viral isolation and culture. Antigen detection by ELISA and gene amplification provide a more rapid diagnostic approach, but are mostly used as research tools.4