Abstract | INTRODUCTION: The new strain of influenza A (H1N1) 2009, often referred to colloquially as "swine flu", which was first detected in April 2009, raised to a pandemic of which the impact was not completely predictable. As reported, numerous cases with severe respiratory failure were also seen among young previously healthy people. PATIENTS: In the present study, we report eight cases of influenza A (H1N1) 2009 admitted to our medical intensive care with severe respiratory failure between November and December 2009 and in January 2011. All patients were older than 30 but younger than 50 years, had clinical and radiological evidence of an Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and needed invasive ventilatory support. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: The clinical course of severe cases of influenza A (H1N1) 2009-infection is markedly different from the disease pattern seen during epidemics of seasonal influenza. Most of the patients admitted to our intensive care unit due to influenza A (H1N1) 2009 associated ARDS were previously healthy young people.
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Authors | Dirk Pabst, Joachim Kuehn, Susanne Schuler-Luettmann, Karsten Wiebe, Pia Lebiedz |
Journal | European journal of internal medicine
(Eur J Intern Med)
Vol. 22
Issue 6
Pg. e119-24
(Dec 2011)
ISSN: 1879-0828 [Electronic] Netherlands |
PMID | 22075296
(Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2011 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
Topics |
- Adult
- Emergency Medical Services
- Fatal Outcome
- Female
- Humans
- Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype
- Influenza, Human
(complications, diagnostic imaging, therapy)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Respiration, Artificial
- Respiratory Distress Syndrome
(diagnostic imaging, therapy, virology)
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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