[Costs of influenza therapy]

The costs of outpatients with influenza. Outbreak of influenza occurs every winter in Japan and it brings a huge impacts on society and the individual. We calculated the costs of medications and medical examinations for outpatients with influenza in hospital. After we confirmed the diagnosis of influenza by rapid diagnosis system (Directigen Flu A) or hemagglutinin inhibition test, neutralization test, comparison of costs was done between influenza patients (89 cases) and non influenza patients (212 cases). Mean cost of total medication and medical examinations were 14,800 +/- 980 yen for an influenza patient and 12,420 +/- 976 yen for a non influenza patient. This data showed that treatment of the influenza patient is more expensive than non influenza patient. It must be considered that prophylaxis with influenza vaccine and treatment with antiinfluenza drugs given in the early stage of influenza are useful for reducing medical costs.