Influenza : $b An epidemiologic studyVaughan, Warren T. (Warren Taylor)
History
Influenza : $b An epidemiologic study
Vaughan, Warren T. (Warren Taylor)
Influenza
“The second and less acute type is marked by a more swinging temperature
with a range of two or three degrees. The expectoration at first may be
frothy and mucopurulent, but it very soon assumes the typically purulent
character. This form may run a long course of from three to six weeks,
during which time the patient wastes a great deal and has frequent and
profuse sweats; indeed, at a certain stage the illness is most
suggestive of acute tubercular infection, and it is only by repeated
examination of the expectoration that the clinician can satisfy himself
he is not really over-looking a case of acute pulmonary tuberculosis.
The majority of our cases conforming to this type have ultimately
recovered, but the convalescence is slow and tedious.
“Onset.—Whilst a history of a previous catarrhal condition lasting for a
few days is often obtained, the disease quickly assumes an acute
character; we have been able to observe this in patients admitted into
this hospital with purulent bronchitis; we find the temperature is
between 102° and 103°, the pulse 120 or over, and the respiration about
35. The patient frequently complains of shivering and looks pathetically
miserable, but we have not seen an actual rigor. Despite his obvious
shortness of breath, the sisters have noticed that, at any rate at
first, he prefers a lateral position low down in the bed, and resents
any attempt to prop him up.
“Cough.—This for the first day or two may be irritable and distressing,
with a little frothy expectoration, but as the latter becomes more
purulent the cough is less troublesome, and soon the patient is
expectorating easily and frequently, until the later stages are reached;
when owing to increasing asphyxia the patient becomes more and more
torpid, the cough subsides, and hardly any secretion is brought up. This
failure becomes an added factor in bringing about a rapidly fatal
termination.
“Expectoration.—The sputum, with its yellowish-green purulent masses, is
very characteristic, and may be one of the first indications of the
serious nature of the illness the patient is suffering from.
“Temperature.—The fever of this complaint does not follow any very
constant type. In nearly all our cases the pyrexia was of sudden onset,
and for the first few days was more or less sustained at about 103°.
Later it conformed more to the swinging type with a range of several
degrees. In a few cases a curious gradual ante mortem drop has been
observed.
“Pulse.—Tachycardia is a very constant feature throughout the illness.
The rate is frequently well over 120, though the volume may remain
surprisingly good until immediately before death.
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