Complications of seasonal and pandemic influenza
- 1 April 2010
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Critical Care Medicine
- Vol. 38, e91-e97
- https://doi.org/10.1097/ccm.0b013e3181c92eeb
Abstract
Influenza is a seasonal viral infection associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In 2009, a novel H1N1 influenza A virus emerged and has been classified as a pandemic. In contrast to seasonal influenza, severe disease from pandemic H1N1 seems concentrated in older children and young adults, with almost no cases reported in patients older than 60 yrs. Although patients with underlying cardiopulmonary disease remain at risk, most complications have occurred among previously healthy individuals, with obesity and respiratory disease as the strongest risk factors. Pulmonary complications are common. Primary influenza pneumonia occurs most commonly in adults and may progress rapidly to acute lung injury requiring mechanical ventilation. Secondary bacterial infection is more common in children. Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains, is an important cause of secondary bacterial pneumonia with a high mortality rate. Treatment of pneumonia should include empirical coverage for this pathogen. Neuromuscular and cardiac complications are unusual but may occur.This publication has 80 references indexed in Scilit:
- Cross-Reactive Antibody Responses to the 2009 Pandemic H1N1 Influenza VirusThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2009
- Influenza in immunosuppressed populations: a review of infection frequency, morbidity, mortality, and vaccine responsesThe Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2009
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Failure from Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) in MexicoThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2009
- Severe Respiratory Disease Concurrent with the Circulation of H1N1 InfluenzaThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2009
- In vitro and in vivo characterization of new swine-origin H1N1 influenza virusesNature, 2009
- Predominant Role of Bacterial Pneumonia as a Cause of Death in Pandemic Influenza: Implications for Pandemic Influenza PreparednessThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2008
- Efficacy of Oseltamivir Therapy in Ferrets Inoculated with Different Clades of H5N1 Influenza VirusAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2007
- Reduction of Morbidity and Mortality by Statins, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors, and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseJournal of the American College of Cardiology, 2006
- Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Infection in HumansThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2005
- Influenza-Associated Hospitalizations in the United StatesJAMA, 2004