Diagnosis and management of novel influenza a (H1N1)

Since the World Health Organization has offi cially declared a global influenza pandemic, the number of human cases of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in 2009 has been increasing in many countries. Especially from mid-October, the number of domestic cases of influenza A (H1N1) has been exponentially increasing, with the number of confi rmed cases reaching over 100,000. The clinical symptoms of novel influenza A (H1N1) include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, myalgia, headache, chills and fatigue. Nucleic acid amplification tests, including real time RT-PCR assay specific for 2009 novel influenza A (H1N1) can be used in the patients with suspected influenza. Antiviral treatment by using neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir, zanamivir) is recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for treatment of novel influenza A (H1N1) disease. Personal and public efforts to control the outbreak of novel influenza A (H1N1) disease are required. Vaccination against pandemic H1N1 is important for personal health, but also to build community-level immunity to novel influenza A.