Infectious Disease Emergency Medicine

Influenza Severity Score (FluSS)

Identifies high-risk influenza patients requiring antiviral therapy (oseltamivir) and hospital-level care.

Result

There is no validated influenza severity score. When influenza is circulating, UK guidance (NICE TA168; UKHSA antiviral guidance) recommends antiviral treatment for people in an at-risk group — for example pregnancy, age over 65, chronic respiratory, cardiovascular, renal or neurological disease, diabetes or immunosuppression — who can start within 48 hours of symptom onset, and for anyone with severe or complicated influenza (such as hypoxaemia, pneumonia, CNS involvement or needing hospital admission), in whom treatment should not wait for test results. Otherwise healthy people with uncomplicated illness usually need supportive care only. Seek senior review for hypoxia, respiratory distress or altered consciousness.

References

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Drugs

Pathways

Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.

References

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