Federal guidelines on diagnosis and management of severe influenza on behalf of Russian Respiratory Society

Abstract

Influenza is an acute respiratory viral infection with high morbidity. The 2009 influenza pandemic known as "swine flu" was caused by А / H1N1 / 09 influenza virus and was characterized by several specific features including frequent injury of the lower respiratory tract with development of progressive pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in children, young and middleaged adults. Clinical course of pneumonia complicating swine flu and management of such patients have been discussed in these guidelines. Admission to a hospital ward and to ICU, antiviral drugs, therapy of pneumonia and ARDS including supplemental oxygen, respiratory support, noninvasive ventilation and extracorporal membrane oxygenation, and preventive measures were also reviewed