Open AccessInfluenza B presenting with bicytopenia in an adult – An unusual presentation and failure of antimicrobial stewardship by a practicing physician
Author(s) -
Rajat Ranka,
Deepjyoti Kalita,
Prasan Kumar Panda
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of family medicine and primary care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2278-7135
pISSN - 2249-4863
DOI - 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_711_20
Subject(s) - medicine , sore throat , pharyngitis , levofloxacin , antimicrobial stewardship , oseltamivir , azithromycin , antimicrobial , medical prescription , respiratory tract infections , intensive care medicine , pediatrics , antibiotics , immunology , antibiotic resistance , respiratory system , infectious disease (medical specialty) , nursing , covid-19 , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , disease
Influenza is a very common cause of upper respiratory illness, rarely presented with bicytopenia, and is being wrongly treated with antimicrobials many-a-times. We report a case of 36-year-old North-Indian man, physician by profession who presented with a 5-day history of typical upper respiratory tract symptoms (sore throat, irritative cough, hoarseness of voice, coryza) and high-grade fever for which he took antibiotics (initially levofloxacin for 2-days, followed by azithromycin) after self-prescription. He developed hematological involvement (leukopenia and thrombocytopenia) for which he was admitted. Throat swab tested positive for Influenza B by RT-PCR. This case highlights a rare presentation of influenza as bicytopenia which rapidly improved with oseltamivir given for 5-days. This is also a classic case of lack of antimicrobial stewardship practice by a physician while self-treating viral pharyngitis. There is a pressing need to create more awareness regarding appropriate use of antimicrobial resources among doctors, only then will others follow.