A 68-Year-Old Man with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Comes to the Physician

A 68-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease comes to the physician due to fever and malaise.  He developed abrupt-onset fever, headache, nonproductive cough, severe body aches, and generalized weakness about 24 hours ago.  He has a 43-year history of smoking but quit 2 years ago.  His medications include tiotropium daily and albuterol as needed.  The patient has no other medical problems.  He visited his grandchildren a week ago during Christmas and reports that his 6-year-old grandson was sick with similar symptoms.
His temperature is 38.9 C (102 F) , blood pressure is 124/84 mm Hg, pulse is 96/min, and respirations are 18/min.  Pulmonary auscultation shows decreased breath sounds bilaterally but no focal crackles.
Chest x-ray shows flat hemidiaphragms bilaterally but no focal infiltrate.  A rapid influenza antigen test is negative.  Laboratory results are as follows:

Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment at this time?

A) Amantadine
B) Oseltamivir
C) Ribavirin
D) Symptomatic therapy (eg, acetaminophen) only
E) Zanamivir

Correct Answer:

Verified

Unlock this answer now
Get Access to more Verified Answers free of charge

Access For Free