Background: Community acquired severity scores are well known and used routinely in predicting mortality and risk of inpatient and ICU admission in suspected bacterial pneumonia patients. However such scores have not been studied in patients with influenza infection and influenza pneumonia. We attempted to validate one such score, CURB65 and and identify other scores that [...]

Background: Community acquired severity scores are well known and used routinely in predicting mortality and risk of inpatient and ICU admission in suspected bacterial pneumonia patients. However such scores have not been studied in patients with influenza infection and influenza pneumonia. We attempted to validate one such score, CURB65 and and identify other scores that [...]

Background: Of the many complications associated with COVID-19 infection, hypercoagulable states with subsequent thrombosis are some of the most feared implications. When trying to uncover a potential relationship between COVID-19 infection and risk for cerebrovascular ischemic events, knowing whether there is an increased risk for these events in those with other respiratory viral pathogens at [...]

Background: There is a significant impact of influenza on the individuals, families, and societies, both economically and clinically, in terms of hospital admissions, medication expenses and side effects, secondary bacterial infections and more days off from work or other forms of reduced productivity for the patients or their caretakers. Our objective is to present the [...]

Case Presentation: A 71 years old white male, with a past medical history of severe eosinophilic asthma, was transferred to our hospital with hypoxemic respiratory failure and worsening infiltrates. Respiratory PCR was negative. The patient was febrile with T-max of 101 F, required 6 L of oxygen. Labs showed WBC 21,000, Hemoglobin was7.4, and Creatinine [...]

Case Presentation: A 22-year-old female was admitted with a 5-day history of bilateral lower extremity weakness. She received influenza vaccination five weeks prior to the presentation. The patient progressed rapidly over days to quadriplegia and respiratory failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. The cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed albuminocytological dissociation, and nerve conduction studies revealed an [...]

Case Presentation: A 68-year-old male with osteoarthritis, status post bilateral knee replacement in 2014, presented with two weeks of flu-like symptoms, generalized weakness, and shortness of breath. Upon admission, the patient was noted to have a tender, swollen right knee with laboratories revealing neutrophilia with bandemia. Computed tomography (CT) of the joint revealed punctate gas [...]

Case Presentation: A 14yo girl presented with syncope and 4 days of URI symptoms. She had no past medical or family history. On presentation, she was hypotensive with mildly elevated lactate, troponin, and BNP, and an unremarkable ECG and chest radiograph. Initial echocardiogram showed normal LV function. Cardiac MRI revealed a pericardial effusion and increased [...]

Case Presentation: A healthy 22-year-old woman presented to the ED with five days of fevers, dry cough, dyspnea and right-sided pleuritic chest pain. Lab work and a CXR were unremarkable. A nasal swab diagnosed Influenza B and she was discharged with Oseltamivir, which she did not take. Two days later, the patient returned with progressive [...]

Case Presentation: A 52-year-old woman brought by family to the emergency department with worsening confusion over 24 hours. There were no associated symptoms and history negative for fever, headache, sore throat, cough, abdominal pain, diarrhea, travel, sick contacts, tick or mosquito bite, alcoholism or drug abuse. Family did report well controlled hypothyroidism, and influenza vaccination [...]