Approach to outpatient antiviral treatment of influenza in adults

* Hospitalization is warranted for patients with significant dehydration and for severely ill patients, especially those with respiratory distress, hypoxemia, impaired cardiopulmonary function, or altered mental status. In the absence of these findings, admission for observation may be warranted for patients with increased risk for complications.

¶ Adults at risk for influenza complications include patients ≥65 years old, patients who are pregnant or up to 2 weeks postpartum, nursing home residents, immunocompromised patients, patients with comorbid conditions (summarized in separate table), and non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic/Latin American, American Indian/Alaska Native patients (possibly related to economic and social conditions [eg, poverty, multigenerational households, limited access or barriers to influenza vaccination]).