Objective: To review the clinical characteristics of H1N1 influenza A, and suggest the clinical practices for the diagnosis and treatment of H1N1 influenza A in the future.
Methods: Thirty-three cases of H1N1 influenza A hospitalized in Beijing Ditan Hospital from May 15 to June 22, 2009 were studied and the clinical data were statistically analyzed with SPSS 11.0 for Windows.
Results: Twenty-five of the 33 patients had a history of travelling in America, Canada, Japan etc within a week; the latent period was between 1 and 6 days in 12 close contact patients. The main symptoms of H1N1 influenza A are fever (66.7%), dry cough (60.6%), cough with sputum (42.4%) and sore throat (36.4%). The laboratory tests in 24 cases (72.7%) were normal, while mild abnormal results were found in the remaining patients. All of the 33 cases were discharged according to the Standard of Diagnosis and Treatment of H1N1 Influenza A published by The Minister of Health, China. The period between 2-consecutive negative results in viral nucleic acid RT-PCR detection and the presenting symptom was 2 to 16 days and the period of hospitalization was 3 to 16 days.
Conclusion: The new type of H1N1 influenza A is characterized by mild symptoms, short period of hospitalization and good prognosis. All the patients can be cured, if they do not suffer from other severe chronic disease.