Flu

Navigating the intricacies of specific formulations is of foremost importance to the community pharmacist.

A single dose of intramuscular peramivir (Rapivab) alleviated the symptoms of influenza in 2 clinical trials.

The short shelf life of the live attenuated influenza vaccine may contribute to patients unwittingly receiving an expired dose.

The FDA has approved the first needle-free device for injecting the Afluria influenza vaccine in adult patients aged 18 to 64 years.

In a large-scale trial, Sanofi's Fluzone High-Dose vaccine demonstrated efficacy in preventing influenza specifically in adults aged 65 years or older.

An ongoing shortage of intravenous saline solution has forced health care workers to spend extra time and funds tracking it down and, in some cases, has caused patient treatment to be delayed.

By tracking the number of times Wikipedia articles on influenza and other health-related topics were read, researchers were able to produce accurate estimates of influenza activity in near real-time.

By offering quick and convenient tests for diseases such as influenza, HIV, and hepatitis C, community pharmacies could help improve prevention and treatment.

Patients who received the antiviral medications within 2 days of symptom onset had particularly reduced rates of death compared with those who received them later or not at all, a meta-analysis finds.

Research from the United Kingdom suggests that getting the influenza vaccine, especially early in the flu season, significantly reduces one's risk of stroke.

Recommendations for vaccinations vary by age and risk.

Data from California indicate that there have been more severe flu cases this season than in any season since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, and two-thirds of severe cases have occurred in those aged 41 to 64.

Research is tempering the perception of the immune-boosting potential of vitamin C supplements.

A new study provides evidence that diabetes patients should receive the influenza vaccine, though its results are not as strong as those produced by previous studies.

A CDC report finds that vaccination had a particularly profound effect on high-risk populations, but that higher rates of coverage would have prevented millions more cases of flu.

Pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia showed better response to the flu vaccine if they received it at a certain point during chemotherapy.

Children hospitalized with severe cases of flu were more likely to survive if they received antivirals within 48 hours of symptom onset than if they received the medications later, a new study finds.

A new report from the CDC finds that almost 50% of asthma patients received a flu shot in the 2010-2011 season, compared with 36% of asthma patients in the 2005-2006 season.