Adults with concurrent illnesses are more likely to report flu-like symptoms, but most of them do not receive immediate treatment and the opportunity to benefit from early use of antiviral drugs is lost - these data have been published in the April online version of the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that people at high risk of developing complications from the flu receive early antiviral drugs for the flu. These are first of all people aged 65 and over, patients with chronic lung or cardiovascular diseases or with diabetes.

Experts from the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assessed the rigor with which the ACIP recommendations were followed during the 2011 influenza season.

Information on the adult population was extracted from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System database in 31 states, and 25 states collected information on children from January to April 2011. Demographics and related diseases, pregnancy and access to medical care were analyzed. and the speed of treatment prescribed.

In total, data were analyzed on 75088 adults and 15649 children, of which 8.9% and 33.9%, respectively, had flu-like symptoms, and these symptoms were more commonly seen in adults with:

Only 45% of adult patients and 57% of children with flu-like symptoms have seen a doctor. Among these adults, 35% of patients went to the doctor during the first 2 days of illness, when antiviral drugs were most effective, and 47% from 3 to 7 days of illness. Prompt access to medical care was associated with an increased frequency of prescribing antiviral drugs.

Unemployed people or patients without health insurance generally did not see a doctor in time or did not see a doctor, which could increase the risk of developing side effects from the flu.

CDC experts conclude that the results of this study underscore the need (1) to educate patients at risk of developing complications from the flu to seek medical attention as soon as possible if flu-like symptoms develop and ( 2) explain to doctors the benefits of antiviral treatment for influenza in high-risk patients and clearly adhere to ACIP recommendations during the seasonal upsurge of the flu.