The First Case of Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Fatality in Korea.

Seol, Hee Yun; Eom, Jung Seop; Kim, Mi Hyun; Cho, Woo Hyun; Kim, Ji Eun; Kim, Ki Uk; Jeon, Doo Soo; Park, Hye Kyung; Kim, Yun Seong; Lee, Min Ki; Park, Soon Kew

doi:2010.68.6.350

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 68(6); 2010 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2010;68(6):350-353.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2010.68.6.350 Published online June 1, 2010.

The First Case of Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Fatality in Korea.

Hee Yun Seol, Jung Seop Eom, Mi Hyun Kim, Woo Hyun Cho, Ji Eun Kim, Ki Uk Kim, Doo Soo Jeon, Hye Kyung Park, Yun Seong Kim, Min Ki Lee, Soon Kew Park

Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea. uk303@hanmail.net

Abstract

Here we report the first fatality caused by H1N1 influenza virus infection with acute respiratory distress syndrome in Korea. A 55-year-old man presented at our emergency department with dyspnea, fever, diffuse myalgia and malaise. Bilateral lung air-space consolidation was detected on his initial chest radiograph combined with severe hypoxemia. He was supported by mechanical ventilation and treated with antibiotics. A nasopharyngeal aspirate was positive for influenza A rapid antigen and oseltamivir was started on day 3 of admission. The nasal swab sample was positive for influenza H1N1 virus by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Despite aggressive treatment, he had refractory hypoxemia and uncontrolled septic shock. On day 5 of admission he went into cardiac arrest and expired.

Key Words: Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype, Pneumonia, Viral, Respiratory Insufficiency, Death