Question

A young adult calls the clinic to ask for a prescription for "that new flu drug." He says he has had the flu for almost 4 days and just heard about a drug that can reduce the symptoms. What is the nurse's best response to his request?

a. "Now that you've had the flu, you will need a booster vaccination, not the antiviral drug."
b. "We will need to do a blood test to verify that you actually have the flu."
c. "Drug therapy should be started within 2 days of symptom onset, not 4 days."
d. "We'll get you a prescription. As long as you start treatment within the next 24 hours, the drug should be effective."

Answer 1

The nurse's best response is that antiviral drug therapy should be started within 2 days of symptom onset, not 4 days.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's best response to the young adult's request for a prescription for the new flu drug is option C: "Drug therapy should be started within 2 days of symptom onset, not 4 days."

Antiviral drugs, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu), can be used to reduce the duration of flu symptoms when taken within 2 days of symptom onset. However, their effectiveness decreases significantly after 2 days.

Starting antiviral treatment after 4 days may not provide the desired reduction in symptoms. Therefore, it is important for the young adult to seek medical attention and start antiviral treatment as soon as possible.