Objective: To study the clinical features and the pulmonary imaging changes of severe cases of new influenza A (H1N1).
Methods: This study included 10 severe cases with new influenza A (H1N1) infection in the Forth People's Hospital of Taiyuan from 20 Oct. 2009 to 22 Nov 2009.Six patients were males and 4 were females, with an average age of 19.3 years (range 5 - 41 years). The laboratory study included blood routine, blood gas analysis, liver and renal function tests, myocardium enzymology, chest radiograph and CT.
Results: The prominent clinical features included fever, cough and dyspnea. The pulmonary imaging changes were varied, including ground-glass opacity, consolidation, atelectasis, fluid pneumothorax and pleural effusion, and manifestations of acute pneumonia and interstitial pneumonia simultaneously. Extensive pulmonary infiltration developed quickly, and acute lung injury (ALI) occurred in 5 patients and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in 3 cases. Oseltamivir, oxygen therapy and antibiotic therapy were effective for improvement of the disease and final recovery of all these patients.
Conclusions: The severe cases of new influenza A (H1N1) infection has imaging manifestations of acute pneumonia and interstitial pneumonia. The disease progresses quickly and may lead to ALI/ARDS.