[Sudden death of a two-year-old boy with influenza A virus infection: study of an autopsy case].
Influenza A virus infections are common in childhood and infancy and are often underdiagnosed while serious or lethal forms are rare.


METHODS
We describe a case of sudden death in a two-year-old boy. Pathologic findings at autopsy were consistent with Myxovirus influenzae A virus infection and the virus was isolated by post mortem PCR.


CONCLUSIONS
In the case of sudden death in infants, especially if pathologic findings are compatible with a viral infection, PCR may allow identification of the causative virus.
Marcorelles
P
P
Service d'anatomie pathologique, centre hospitalier universitaire, 29609 Brest, France.
Freymuth
F
F
Rambaud
C
C
Gardach
C
C
Legrand-Quillien
M C
MC
Lagarde
N
N
D001344:Autopsy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction