A nurse is caring for a patient with 'Swine Flu' and she has to give the Drug of choice for 'Swine Flu' and it is

Appeared in: JIPMER Nursing Officer-2017

Explanation

Oseltamivir is the drug of choice for treating Influenza A, which includes the H1N1 strain commonly known as Swine Flu.
It belongs to a class of drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors.
Its mechanism involves blocking the neuraminidase enzyme on the virus's surface, which prevents the release of new viral particles from infected cells and halts the spread of the infection.

Option A: Acyclovir is an antiviral medication that targets the herpes virus family.
Option B: Adefovir is specifically used to treat chronic infections caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV).
Option C: Cidofovir is a powerful antiviral reserved for serious infections with Cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Pharmacological treatment for Swine Flu (H1N1 Influenza) to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Early initiation of Oseltamivir, ideally within 48 hours of symptom onset, is a critical nursing responsibility to maximize therapeutic benefit and reduce the duration and severity of influenza.
Nurses must educate patients to take Oseltamivir with food to minimize gastrointestinal distress (nausea, vomiting) and to complete the full 5-day course to prevent viral resistance.
Monitoring for rare but serious neuropsychiatric side effects (e.g., confusion, delirium, hallucinations), especially in children and adolescents, is an important safety consideration.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'Swine Flu'.
Recall that 'Swine Flu' is the common name for the H1N1 strain of the Influenza A virus.
The question asks for the 'drug of choice'. This requires recalling the first-line pharmacological treatment for influenza.
Systematically review the options. Acyclovir is for herpes viruses, Adefovir is for Hepatitis B, and Cidofovir is for Cytomegalovirus.
Eliminate the distractors based on their specific indications, which do not include influenza.
Identify Oseltamivir as the correct answer, as it is a neuraminidase inhibitor specifically designed to treat Influenza A and B.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 1961-1963

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 1591-1593

Practise the full JIPMER Nursing Officer-2017

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.