A child with avian influenza A (H5N1) infection.
Human infections with avian influenza viruses can be severe and may be harbingers of the evolution of a pandemic strain. We present a patient in Thailand who was infected with influenza A (H5N1) virus. Prominent features included the progression from fever and dyspnea to the acute respiratory distress syndrome in a short period, lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia. Establishing the diagnosis for this patient increased public awareness of the virus and was soon followed by a halting of poultry-to-human transmission. On the basis of available data, any child with suspected avian influenza infection should be treated with oseltamivir.
Chokephaibulkit
Kulkanya
K
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Uiprasertkul
Mongkol
M
Puthavathana
Pilaipan
P
Chearskul
Pimpanada
P
Auewarakul
Prasert
P
Dowell
Scott F
SF
Vanprapar
Nirun
N
D002648:Child; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male