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Cureus. 2019 May 31;11(5):e4788. doi: 10.7759/cureus.4788.
David Versus Goliath: The Clinical Consequences of an Influenza A Viral Infection in an Unvaccinated Patient.
Harmon TS1, Olano JP2, Nguyen QD3, Duran C3, Patel S3.
Author information
Abstract
Acute influenza virus (AIV) infection can manifest as a severe life-threating illness in patients who are not vaccinated, and furthermore, have comorbidities that place them at risk for rapid respiratory decompensation. Each year influenza causes death in individuals with high risk for contracting this infection, although the illness is preventable by vaccination. Complications of AIV infection, such as bacterial pneumonia are treatable, but other severe complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) leading to diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) are limited to supportive therapy and self-resolution. In most cases, ARDS leading to DAD is fatal, due to the insidious severity of symptoms which lead to rapid oxygen desaturation without correction, and despite supportive therapy. Regardless of a poor prognosis, the clinical signs and symptoms are congruent with imaging and attest to the importance of vaccination, which protect against high mortality rates.
KEYWORDS:
acute respiratory distress; bacterial pneumonia; diffuse alveolar damage; epidemic; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; influenza a virus; influenza b virus; polymerase chain reaction; prevention; vaccination
PMID: 31372326 PMCID: PMC6669023 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.4788
Free PMC Article
David Versus Goliath: The Clinical Consequences of an Influenza A Viral Infection in an Unvaccinated Patient.
Harmon TS1, Olano JP2, Nguyen QD3, Duran C3, Patel S3.
Author information
Abstract
Acute influenza virus (AIV) infection can manifest as a severe life-threating illness in patients who are not vaccinated, and furthermore, have comorbidities that place them at risk for rapid respiratory decompensation. Each year influenza causes death in individuals with high risk for contracting this infection, although the illness is preventable by vaccination. Complications of AIV infection, such as bacterial pneumonia are treatable, but other severe complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) leading to diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) are limited to supportive therapy and self-resolution. In most cases, ARDS leading to DAD is fatal, due to the insidious severity of symptoms which lead to rapid oxygen desaturation without correction, and despite supportive therapy. Regardless of a poor prognosis, the clinical signs and symptoms are congruent with imaging and attest to the importance of vaccination, which protect against high mortality rates.
KEYWORDS:
acute respiratory distress; bacterial pneumonia; diffuse alveolar damage; epidemic; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; influenza a virus; influenza b virus; polymerase chain reaction; prevention; vaccination
PMID: 31372326 PMCID: PMC6669023 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.4788
Free PMC Article