Pulmonary sequelae in a patient recovered from swine flu

Lung India. 2012 Jul;29(3):277-9. doi: 10.4103/0970-2113.99118.

Abstract

The pandemic of swine flu (H1N1) influenza spread to involve the whole world rapidly. Many patients manifested a mild clinical illness but some developed pneumonia and respiratory failure. High mortality was observed in patients with severe disease. Among survivors, studies are limited. Ground-glass opacities on a high-resolution computerized tomography scan and reduced diffusion capacity were noted after 3 months in a study. But long-term complications in patients with swine flu pneumonia have not been studied well. We are presenting an unusual case of swine flu pneumonia who developed interstitial lung disease after recovery.

Keywords: Complications; Influenza A virus H1N1 subtype; diffuse parenchymal lung disease; pulmonary fibrosis.