Heavy hearts: the impact of influenza on young lives, a rare case report

Uksim  Qadri; Sanam  Wani; Saleem Javaid  Wani; Bashir Ahmad  Fomda; Umaya  Majid; Iram  Jan; Suraiya  Mir

doi:10.18502/ijm.v17i3.18834

Uksim Qadri Department of Microbiology, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Sanam Wani Department of Microbiology, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Saleem Javaid Wani Department of General Medicine, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Sour, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Bashir Ahmad Fomda Department of Microbiology, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Umaya Majid Department of Microbiology, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Iram Jan Department of Microbiology, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Suraiya Mir Department of Microbiology, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Jammu and Kashmir, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v17i3.18834

Keywords: Cardiac tamponade; Influenza A and B virus coinfection; Pericardial effusion; Viral cardiomyopathies

Abstract

Considerable information is available about the acute respiratory symptoms of influenza A and B. However, rarely, these viruses can adversely affect the cardiovascular system. Few cases of pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade due to the Influenza virus have been reported. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first case of a 23-year-old unvaccinated woman having concurrent influenza A and B infection manifesting as pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade. The patient was treated with oseltamivir 75 mg, resulting in significant clinical improvement. This case emphasizes the importance of considering influenza as a possible cause of cardiac tamponade.