Flu

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.

Case studies involving patients with influenza or in close proximity to patients with influenza.

Researchers at Rutgers University have identified chemical agents that may be the key to developing a new class of antiviral medicines to treat influenza.

A high-dose flu shot may produce greater antibody responses in elderly adults living in nursing homes than the standard vaccine, new research suggests.

The results of a recent study suggest that health care personnel do not practice greater hand hygiene during a moderately severe flu season compared with a mild season.

Pharmacists can have a positive impact when it comes to identifying and helping patients during influenza season.

The 2012-2013 flu season in the United States was among the most severe in more than a decade, with 2 to 3 times the impact of a normal flu season in terms of missed work, school, and vacations, according to a Walgreens report.

Patients overwhelmed by the options in these product categories will appreciate a pharmacist's guidance.

A study of influenza-related pediatric deaths from 2004 through 2012 finds that almost half of children who died had no known high-risk medical complications.

A meta-analysis of previous studies suggests that getting vaccinated against the flu reduces one's risk of adverse cardiovascular events, with the greatest benefit in those with a recent acute coronary syndrome.

Although pharmacies need to make money, it is important to remember that their purpose is to serve patients.