[Pneumonia and the acute respiratory distress syndrome due to influenza A (H1N1) virus]

Abstract

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury (ALI) are part of a devastating syndrome characterized by acute onset, hypoxemia, and bilateral infiltrates on chest x-rays. ALI/ARDS is the response of the lung to a local or systemic aggression, resulting in local inflammation and coagulation disorders, which lead to increased inflammatory pulmonary edema. ARDS is a major cause of morbidity, death, and cost in intensive care units. The most common cause is sepsis. We present a case of ARDS secondary to infection with the influenza A (H1N1) virus. The influenza A (H1N1) virus caused a global pandemia 91 years ago, with sporadic outbreaks afterward. The new influenza A pandemia was transmitted from swine to humans. Infection by the influenza A (H1N1) virus can cause severe respiratory illness, the acute respiratory distress syndrome, and secondary infections among healthcare workers.