How should I manage a patient with a confirmed diagnosis of influenza during the peak season?

Management of a patient with confirmed influenza during peak season:

• Advise the patient to maintain adequate fluid intake to prevent dehydration.
• Recommend symptomatic relief with paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce fever and pain.
• Encourage rest, especially if the patient feels fatigued.
• Advise the patient to stay off work or school if unwell, typically for about one week, as fever and systemic symptoms usually resolve within this time, though cough and fatigue may persist up to two weeks.
• Prescribe antiviral treatment (oral oseltamivir or inhaled zanamivir) if all the following apply: influenza is circulating in the community, the patient is in an 'at risk' group (e.g., age >65, children under 6 months, pregnant women, or with chronic conditions), and treatment can start within 48 hours of symptom onset (36 hours for zanamivir in children). For previously healthy patients at serious risk of complications, antivirals may also be considered under the same timing conditions.
• If COVID-19 is a possible differential diagnosis, arrange PCR testing; however, do not delay antiviral treatment if influenza is highly probable.
• Advise the patient to seek urgent medical attention if they develop shortness of breath, pleuritic chest pain, or haemoptysis, as these may indicate pneumonia or bacterial superinfection.
• Arrange follow-up if symptoms do not improve after one week or if the patient deteriorates, with a lower threshold for follow-up in babies and young children.
• Consider hospital admission for complicated influenza or if the patient develops serious complications such as pneumonia.