HANTAVIRUS PULMONARY SYNDROME - RECOGNITION AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT

Hantavirus infection with respiratory involvement is a new clinical en tity. The respiratory and cardiovascular abnormalities associated with hantavirus infection define the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). We present two cases of HPS and discuss the presentation, epidemiology , emergency department management, and differential diagnosis. Treatme nt of HPS involves intensive care monitoring, airway management, and c ardiovascular support. Because human hantavirus infection with respira tory involvement has been recognized recently in all geographic region s of the United States, it is important for emergency physicians to re cognize this syndrome's characteristic symptoms and laboratory abnorma lities. The fulminant clinical course of HPS and its 65% mortality rat e underscore the importance of early recognition if potentially life-s aving interventions are to be initiated.