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Wiki Level 4 or Level 3

blaymon

Networker
Messages
33
Location
Winston Salem, NC
Best answers
0
Let me know what level you would choose! Thank you!

18 y.o. female who presents for evaluation of cold and flu like symptoms. Symptoms include congestion, runny nose, cough, body aches, fatigue, fever, sweats, and chills. They have been present for 1 day. Patient has tried to alleviate the symptoms with NyQuil/DayQuil with minimal relief. The patient denies sore throat, nausea, vomiting, SOB, wheezing, and CP. Patient has known exposure to a sick roommate.

BP: 124/83
Pulse: 120
Resp: 18
Temp: (!) 101.3 °F (38.5 °C)
SpO2: 98%
Weight: 217 lb
Height: 5' 7"

General: patient appears ill but nontoxic, alert, appears stated age, cooperative and NAD. Voice is hoarse
Head: Normocephalic, without obvious abnormality, atraumatic.
Eyes: b/l conjunctivae/corneas clear, PERRL. No edema, swelling, or erythema of periorbital skin.
Ears: Bilateral serous effusions. EAC patent without discharge b/l
Nose: Turbinates mildly edematous. Rhinorrhea is present
Throat: mildly erythematous, uvula midline. Negative for exudate, petechiae, edema. No visible masses or obstructions, patient able to manage their own secretions. No trismus. PND is present.
Neck: no adenopathy, supple, trachea midline, full ROM, no unilateral swelling
Lungs: clear to auscultation bilaterally, no signs of respiratory distress including but not limited to nasal flaring, accessory muscle use, and retractions, breathing is unlabored
Heart: tachycardic rate and regular rhythm, S1, S2 normal, no murmur, click, rub or gallop
Skin: Skin color, texture, turgor normal. No rashes or lesions

POC COVID is negative
POC Influenza is positive for B

Assessment:

1. Influenza B


Differential includes: COVID, common cold, sinusitis, allergies, URI, pneumonia, bronchitis

Tachycardia and fever are secondary to influenza B virus.


Plan:

1. Labs and orders from today's visit: I have started the patient on oseltamivir phosphate 75 mg BID X 5 days, benzonatate 200 mg TID PRN cough, and pseudoephedrine-brompheniramine-DM.

2. Supportive care with acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and Mucinex per package/bottle directions and additional non-pharmacologic options such as saline rinses and salt water gargles. Increase fluids to prevent dehydration and get plenty of rest.

3. Discussed cautions for taking OTC medications: be sure to check each ingredient list to prevent accidentally doubling a medication dose. If using oral decongestants or products containing them (like pseudoephedrine) do not take for more than 7 days in a row. If using decongestant nasal sprays (like Afrin), do not use for more than 3 days in a row. Taking these products longer than the aforementioned time, may result in rebound congestion that is typically WORSE than the original congestion.

4. Advised patient to follow up with their PCP this week or to go directly to the ED if new or acutely worsening symptoms occur. We have discussed the symptoms which are most concerning and necessitate immediate presentation to the ED, including, but not limited to: difficulty breathing or swallowing, fever, changing or worsening SOB, CP, inability to keep fluids down, severe headache, neck stiffness, vision changes, and blood in stool/vomit/cough.
 
AMA CPT definitions. I suppose someone could argue the tachy bumps it up. I don't feel it does on this documentation.


Acute illness with systemic symptoms: An illness that causes systemic symptoms and has a high risk of morbidity without treatment. For systemic general symptoms, such as fever, body aches, or fatigue in a minor illness that may be treated to alleviate symptoms, see the definitions for self-limited or minor problem or acute, uncomplicated illness or injury. Systemic symptoms may not be general but may be single system.

Acute, uncomplicated illness or injury: A recent or new short-term problem with low risk of morbidity for which treatment is considered. There is little to no risk of mortality with treatment, and full recovery without functional impairment is expected. A problem that is normally self limited or minor but is not resolving consistent with a definite and prescribed course is an acute, uncomplicated illness.
 
This is definitely the grayest area in my opinion. Uncomplicated illness vs acute illness with systemic symptoms. My thought is the patient does exhibit AISS due to high fever, tachycardia, and looks ill. Influenza is not an illness for which treatment is considered, it kills thousands of people each year and should be aggressively treated with antiviral medication, especially when they present like this patient did. Thank you for your opinion!
 
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