Influenza A Virus H1N1pdm09

Influenza A Virus H1N1pdm09

Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09, also known as swine influenza, is a subtype of influenza A virus belonging to the Orthomyxoviridae family. This virus resulted from a reassortment of gene segments from human, swine, and avian influenza viruses.

The main clinical symptoms of infection include a sudden onset of fever, shivering, headache, myalgia, sore throat, cough and generalized weakness. In some cases, gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may occur. In patients with compromised immune systems or other chronic comorbidities as well as in children, the elderly and pregnant women, the infection may progress to severe forms leading to bacterial viral pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), myocarditis and secondary bacterial infections such as pneumonia and sinusitis.

Severe forms of the disease may lead to the development of hypoxemia, requiring intensive care and mechanical lung ventilation. The body's immune response to viral infection can lead to systemic inflammation, which may subsequently result in septic shock and multiple organ failure.

Timely detection of influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus is especially important during epidemics, when prompt action is needed to control the spread of infection. Real-time RT-PCR allows not only to identify infected patients, but also to conduct epidemiological monitoring, which is necessary for implementing counter-epidemic measures. If influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 infection is confirmed, antiviral therapy has to be started immediately, especially in patients at high risk of complications.