grippeähnlichen

Grippeähnlich describes a clinical presentation in which a person has symptoms that resemble influenza, without implying a specific causative disease. The term is used in medical practice to characterise an illness mainly by its signs and course rather than by a confirmed laboratory diagnosis. Grippeähnliche Symptome can occur with several respiratory infections and vary in severity from mild to substantial.

Typical symptoms include sudden onset fever, cough, sore throat, muscle or body aches, headache and fatigue. Additional features may be nasal congestion, runny nose, chills, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea, especially in children. The duration is usually several days, but fatigue and cough can persist longer, particularly in vulnerable groups such as the elderly or those with chronic conditions.

Causes and differential diagnosis: grippähnliche Erkrankungen are not specific to influenza and can be caused by a range of pathogens, including influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, and coronaviruses, among others. The term is commonly used alongside the case definition for influenza-like illness (ILI), which typically involves fever and cough and/or sore throat, in the absence of another obvious cause. Differential diagnosis also includes other viral infections and, less commonly, bacterial infections.

Diagnosis and management: evaluation combines clinical assessment with exposure history and, if indicated, laboratory testing (rapid influenza diagnostic tests or PCR). Treatment is mainly supportive; antiviral therapy for influenza may be considered for confirmed or suspected cases in high-risk individuals, preferably within 48 hours of symptom onset. Preventive measures include vaccination, hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette.