Important Clinical Syndromes in Adults Caused by Respiratory Viruses
Richard V. Lee
Despite the multitude of viral respiratory pathogens, there are only a few distinct clinical syndromes that result from infection. Clinical identification of a specific causative virus is usually impossible; only a virus diagnostic laboratory can provide an accurate etiologic diagnosis. Practically, a clinical diagnosis is sufficient almost all of the time. The majority of respiratory viruses, with a few exceptions, pose no special threat to pregnancy. Antiviral chemotherapy has only limited use in the management of respitatory infections during pregnancy; ribavirin, amantadine, and rimantadine are embryotoxic and teratogenic in rodents. Unless there is compelling benefit to the use of these drugs and accurate identification of the causative virus, antiviral drugs for respiratory infections should not be given to pregnant women...
Main Topic: The Pregnant Adult Woman : The Common Cold : Febrile Pharyngitis : Laryngotracheobronchitis and Bronchiolitis : Pneumonia
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