Radiological features of lung changes caused by avian influenza subtype A H5N1 virus： report of two severe adult cases with regular follow-up

• Published in: Chinese medical journal 2010-01, Vol.123 (1), p.100-104
• Main Authors: Lu, Pu-xuan, Wang, Yi-xiang, Zhou, Bo-ping, Ge, Yang, Zhu, Wen-ke, Chen, Xin-chun, Ran, Xian-gui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Female; H5N1亚型; H5N1型病毒; H5N1禽流感病毒; Humans; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - physiology; Influenza, Human - diagnostic imaging; Influenza, Human - virology; Male; Radiography; 人类感染; 影像学; 流行病学特征
• ISSN: 0366-6999; 2542-5641
• DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0366-6999.2010.01.018

Several subtypes of avian influenza A have been shown to cross the species barrier and infect humans, leadingto human cases of avian influenza） Till June 2, 2009, globally there were 433 confirmed human cases of avian influenza caused by H5N1 virus, with a death rate of 60.5%.3 This is far higher than the reported 11% death rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome （SARS）.4 The epidemiologic features of human case of influenza A subtype H5N1 virus infection consist of high incidence rate in cold weather, high susceptibility in population of younger age associated with rapid onset of the disease and devastating illness in humans.12＇5＇6 H5N1 virus is mostly transmitted to humans directly through contact with infected birds or their secretions and the patients present with an influenza type illness with fever, cough, sore throat, malaise, and gastrointestinal symptoms; which can result in a rapidly progressive primary viral pneumonia and respiratory failure.2 Patients above the age of 5 years are likely to have an adverse course of disease.5