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Cureus
. 2023 Sep 18;15(9):e45501.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.45501. eCollection 2023 Sep. Acute Fulminant Cerebral Edema Caused by Influenza Type B in an 18-Year-Old Female: A Rare Case
Luis E Santiago 1 2 , Ali Tariq Alvi 1 2 , Zahid Nadeem 1 2 , Ali Chaudhry 3 2
Affiliations
Most influenza B infections are self-limited, but in some instances, they can cause substantial morbidity and mortality due to complications. Acute fulminant cerebral edema (AFCE) is one of the rare complications. AFCE, a consequence of acute encephalitis, presents as acute onset of alteration in mental status, seizure, and/or headache followed by rapidly progressive encephalopathy, often leading to death. The exact pathophysiology of AFCE is unknown, but many pathomechanisms have been proposed. We present a case of an 18-year-old female in excellent physical condition who presented with respiratory insufficiency after being recently diagnosed with influenza B infection. Three days later, she developed acute encephalopathy, leading to brain death. To our knowledge, this rare case of AFCE developing following influenza B infection is the first reported case outside the pediatric population.
Keywords: acute fulminant cerebral edema; acute respiratory distress syndrome (ards); brain death; cerebral edema; critical care; influenza b; influenza myocarditis.
. 2023 Sep 18;15(9):e45501.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.45501. eCollection 2023 Sep. Acute Fulminant Cerebral Edema Caused by Influenza Type B in an 18-Year-Old Female: A Rare Case
Luis E Santiago 1 2 , Ali Tariq Alvi 1 2 , Zahid Nadeem 1 2 , Ali Chaudhry 3 2
Affiliations
- PMID: 37868552
- PMCID: PMC10584662
- DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45501
Most influenza B infections are self-limited, but in some instances, they can cause substantial morbidity and mortality due to complications. Acute fulminant cerebral edema (AFCE) is one of the rare complications. AFCE, a consequence of acute encephalitis, presents as acute onset of alteration in mental status, seizure, and/or headache followed by rapidly progressive encephalopathy, often leading to death. The exact pathophysiology of AFCE is unknown, but many pathomechanisms have been proposed. We present a case of an 18-year-old female in excellent physical condition who presented with respiratory insufficiency after being recently diagnosed with influenza B infection. Three days later, she developed acute encephalopathy, leading to brain death. To our knowledge, this rare case of AFCE developing following influenza B infection is the first reported case outside the pediatric population.
Keywords: acute fulminant cerebral edema; acute respiratory distress syndrome (ards); brain death; cerebral edema; critical care; influenza b; influenza myocarditis.