Studies on Epidemic Influenza: Comprising Clinical and Laboratory InvestigationsUniversity of Pittsburgh. School of Medicine
History
Studies on Epidemic Influenza: Comprising Clinical and Laboratory Investigations
University of Pittsburgh. School of Medicine
Influenza; Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919
With the knowledge that there is a prevailing epidemic of influenza and
that the manifestations are largely in the respiratory tract, any
pulmonary disturbance will necessarily make one suspicious of the
presence or the oncoming of an influenzal pneumonia in the patient under
consideration. The history of the onset, as of simple influenza, is the
greatest factor. This with a continued temperature, cough, cyanosis,
slow pulse, continued asthenia, or even an unusual leucopenia, may have
a greater weight in determining the diagnosis of lung involvement than
will the apparently definite or, as it may happen, the confusing chest
signs. To differentiate from ordinary bronchitis, broncho-pneumonia and
catarrhal pneumonia, one need only refer additionally to the severity
and persistency of the disease when it is of the influenzal type, as
compared with the mildness of the ordinary type. To differentiate it
from croupous pneumonia, one need only compare the confusing symptom
picture of the influenzal pneumonia with the definite, clear picture of
ordinary pneumonia; or the confusing kaleidoscopic chest signs of the
one with the definite, clear-cut signs of the other. The laboratory thus
far has been the smallest factor in making the diagnosis, in that sputum
examinations, blood examinations, blood cultures and urine examinations
are mostly negative in their results, or at least the findings are not
specific. We do not, however, mean to indicate that these tests are not
of the greatest value. The leucopenia is the one outstanding feature
which seems to have separated this infection from other acute lung
infections, excepting miliary tuberculosis. The differentiation of
influenzal pneumonia from an acute tuberculous process in the lung may
be difficult, especially if there is no reliable history available.
However, the fact that pulmonary tuberculosis usually begins at the
apices of the lungs and influenzal pneumonia at the bases or at the
apices of the lower lobes is quite helpful. Of course, the examination
of the sputum for tubercle bacilli will be a deciding factor.
The differentiation between influenzal pneumonia and diseases of the
pleura is one which practically rarely needs to be made, for there seem
to be very few cases of influenzal infection of the lungs in which the
pleura is not also involved to a greater or lesser extent.
_Complications_
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