Mode of presentation and disposition of suspected swine flu (H1N1) patients in the Emergency Department, Pakistan

Abstract

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study is to review the clinical characteristics of patients suspected of swine flu and their disposition in the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital. METHODOLOGY Retrospective chart review of the patients suspected of swine flu presenting to the emergency department of Shifa International Hospital from January 2018 to February 2019 was done. The data was taken from infection control department and files of the patient were reviewed from medical record department. Frequency and percentages were calculated using SPSS version 23. Ethical approval was taken. RESULTS 59 patients were enrolled in the study out of which 29 (49%) were positive for either H1N1, flu A or Flu B most of which were adults. The common presenting features were cough (96%), dyspnoea (75%), tachypnoea (76%) and fever (48%). Influenza A had the highest incidence (65%) among all cases. Eight patients (27.6%) were discharged from the emergency department whereas twenty-one (72.4%) patients were offered admission with five patients being admitted in the critical unit. CONCLUSION Cases of swine flu are reported every year across the country. Mortality rates are higher among the patients with a diagnosis delay. Further studies need to be done among different hospitals to get more precise data about the prevalence and early identification of swine flu.