Clinical analysis of 150 cases with the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in Shanghai, China.

The aim of the present research was to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the novel influenza A (H1N1) in China. We retrospectively analyzed the epidemiological information and clinical characteristics of 150 patients with the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection by descriptive epidemiology. There were 82 males and 68 females in this group. The median age of the 150 patients was 34.4 years (range, 4 to 77 years). There were 145 imported cases among the patients and most of these cases came from Australia, America and Canada. The main symptoms included fever, cough and sore throat. Other symptoms included: expectoration, runny nose, throat itching, sniffles, dry pharynx, headache, muscular ache, etc. CD4(+) T cell counts of 48% of the patients were lower than normal. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest in 32 cases was abnormal, including: increased bronchovascular shadows, pneumonia, pleural thickening and pleurisy, etc. Oseltamivir was the first choice for treatment of A (H1N1) influenza and it was safe and well tolerated. The symptoms were minor and the prognosis was good. All patients recovered fully after treatment. Considering the fact that the flu is highly infectious and can be carried through human to human contact rapidly, local Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) should strengthen monitoring and take some measures in view of an influenza A (H1N1) onslaught.