INFLUENZA-B VIRUS-INFECTION ASSOCIATED WITH SHOCK IN A 2-MONTH OLD INFANT

Influenza B virus usually causes a mild and self-limiting illness. A 2 -month-old infant presented with acute symptoms suggestive of septic s hock but recovered after vigorous resuscitation 1 day later. Influenza B was isolated from a throat swab taken from the infant. Bacterial cu ltures of blood, urine and spinal fluid had no growth. This case illus trates that the clinical signs and symptoms of influenza in infants ma y be indistinguishable from bacterial sepsis.