Tuberc Respir Dis.  2010 Jun;68(6):350-353. 10.4046/trd.2010.68.6.350.

The First Case of Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Fatality in Korea

• Seol HY
• Eom JS
• Kim MH
• Cho WH
• Kim JE
• Kim KU
• Jeon DS
• Park HK
• Kim YS
• Lee MK
• Park SK

• KMID: 1458044
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2010.68.6.350

Abstract

Here we report the first fatality caused by H1N1 influenza virus infection with acute respiratory distress syndrome in Korea. A 55-year-old man presented at our emergency department with dyspnea, fever, diffuse myalgia and malaise. Bilateral lung air-space consolidation was detected on his initial chest radiograph combined with severe hypoxemia. He was supported by mechanical ventilation and treated with antibiotics. A nasopharyngeal aspirate was positive for influenza A rapid antigen and oseltamivir was started on day 3 of admission. The nasal swab sample was positive for influenza H1N1 virus by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Despite aggressive treatment, he had refractory hypoxemia and uncontrolled septic shock. On day 5 of admission he went into cardiac arrest and expired.

Keyword

Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Pneumonia, Viral; Respiratory Insufficiency; Death

MeSH Terms

Anoxia
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Dyspnea
Emergencies
Fever
Heart Arrest
Humans
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype
Influenza, Human
Korea
Lung
Middle Aged
Orthomyxoviridae
Oseltamivir
Pneumonia, Viral
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Respiration, Artificial
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult
Respiratory Insufficiency
Shock, Septic
Thorax
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Oseltamivir

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 (A) The initial chest radiograph showed bilateral air-space consolidation. (B) A chest computed tomography scan revealed bilateral peripheral consolidation and ground-glass opacity with centrilobular nodules.

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