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Massive air leak secondary to influenza B in a 7-year-old: A case report
Sameer Sharif1, Mohamed Eltorki2
1Department of Medicine, Division of Critical and Emergency Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Insights
Influenza B can cause severe illness, including respiratory distress, in healthy children. Vaccination is crucial for preventing serious influenza complications and protecting public health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Influenza presents with variable severity, ranging from mild symptoms to life-threatening conditions like the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
- Influenza B, a common strain, can affect individuals across all age groups.
Observation:
- A case report details a healthy 7-year-old child experiencing critical illness due to influenza B.
- The child developed massive air leak syndrome, necessitating chest tube insertion, intubation, and mechanical ventilation.
Findings:
- The patient progressed to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), with consideration for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
- Treatment with ceftriaxone and oseltamivir led to gradual improvement over 20 days.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential severity of influenza B in pediatric patients, even those who are otherwise healthy.
- Emphasizes the critical importance of influenza vaccination for preventing severe disease and potential complications.
Abstract:
Influenza is an illness that affects individuals of all ages but its severity varies immensely: from the symptoms of a common cold to the deadly outbreak of the pandemic H1N1 strain in 2009. This case report describes the circumstances surrounding the critical illness of a healthy 7-year-old child who developed a massive air leak syndrome secondary to influenza B. She required the emergent insertion of a chest tube as well as intubation and mechanical ventilation. She developed severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and was strongly considered for being placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. She was treated with ceftriaxone and oseltamivir and slowly improved over the course of 20 days. The purpose of this report is to illustrate the severity of influenza with an emphasis on prevention with vaccination.
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