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: NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2019

Explanation

Swine flu is a type of influenza caused by the H1N1 virus strain.
Oseltamivir is the recommended first-line antiviral drug for treating influenza A and B, which includes the H1N1 (swine flu) strain.
It functions as a neuraminidase inhibitor, preventing the release of new virus particles from infected cells and thereby halting the spread of the infection.
Treatment with Oseltamivir is most effective when initiated within the first 48 hours of symptom onset.

Option A: Acyclovir is an antiviral medication, but its spectrum of activity is against herpesviruses.
Option B: Adefovir is an antiviral agent specifically used to treat a liver infection, not a respiratory virus like influenza.
Option C: Cidofovir is a potent, broad-spectrum antiviral used for severe viral infections in immunocompromised individuals, but it is not a primary treatment for influenza due to its toxicity profile.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Pharmacological treatment for Influenza A (H1N1), also known as swine flu to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Nurses must administer Oseltamivir promptly, ideally within 48 hours of symptom onset, to maximize efficacy and reduce the severity and duration of illness.
A key nursing responsibility is implementing strict droplet precautions (e.g., surgical mask, single room) to prevent nosocomial spread of the highly contagious influenza virus.
Patient education is crucial; the nurse must instruct the patient to complete the full course of Oseltamivir to prevent the development of antiviral resistance.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the specific disease mentioned in the question, which is 'swine flu'.
Recall that swine flu is a strain of the Influenza A virus (H1N1).
The question asks for the 'drug of choice', indicating a need to identify the first-line pharmacological treatment.
Evaluate the given options, which are all antiviral drugs.
Differentiate the drugs based on their specific indications. Recall or deduce that Oseltamivir is for influenza, Acyclovir is for herpes, Adefovir is for Hepatitis B, and Cidofovir is for CMV.
Select Oseltamivir as it is the only option indicated for the treatment of Influenza A.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Pharmacological treatment for Influenza A (H1N1), also known as swine flu.
Stem keywords: swine flu, drug of choice
Lead-in keywords: is

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