Lefeuvre C, etc.,al. Fatal Myopericarditis Following an Influenza A (H3N2) Infection. Am J Case Rep. 2018 May 8;19:540-544
BACKGROUND Influenza viruses induce uncomplicated infections in most cases in individuals with no known predisposing factors. Acute febrile illness is generally limited to upper respiratory symptoms and several constitutional symptoms, including headache, lethargy, and myalgia. However, influenza A virus is a cause of severe morbidity and mortality worldwide. Some patients are at risk for serious and fatal complications. Cardiac involvement is a well-known condition, but, clinically apparent influenza myocarditis is not common. Few reports exist regarding recurrent fulminant influenza myocarditis. CASE REPORT We report here a fatal case of heart failure following myocarditis in a 14-year-old female who had seasonal flu symptoms but was otherwise healthy. H3N2 influenza virus infection was detected by molecular analyses of throat and nasal swabs, suggesting damage to myocardial cells caused directly by the virus. CONCLUSIONS Pericardial effusion myopericarditis may occur during influenza virus infection in young individuals, even those with no known predisposing factors. Physicians need to be aware that acute myopericarditis can be a fatal complication of recent influenza virus infection in all patients with instable hemodynamics. Early diagnosis and treatment could reduce, in some cases, the risk of severe cardiac events. However, this sudden and fatal outcome was difficult to predict in a healthy young female with no known risk factors.
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- [preprint]Egyptian rousette bat humoral immunity to H9 influenza hemagglutinin 7 hours ago
- The surveillance programme for avian influenza (AI) in Norwegian wildlife 2025 17 hours ago
- The surveillance programme for avian influenza (AI) in poultry in Norway 2025 18 hours ago
- Emergence of Novel Reassortant H3N2 Avian Influenza Viruses in Southern China: Genetic Complexity and Pathogenicity in Chickens and Mice 18 hours ago
- Pathological evidence of neurotropism and oculotropism in wild black-headed gulls naturally infected with H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza 18 hours ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]


