Encephalitis and Influenza

Abstract

INFLUENZA IN DUNDEE BRITisH 913 MWICAL JOURNAL of cases the staphylococci were of the resistant type generally associated with hospitals. Second attacks of influenza within a period of seven weeks are reported. Attention is drawn to two cases of encephalitis which are possibly influenzal in origin. Measures for the treatment of influenzal pneumonia are discussed. A plea is made for further studies on the local epidemiology of influenzal pneumonia, especially from the point of view of the bacterial component. We wish to thank Professor W. J. Tulloch for facilities, and to express our gratitude to the nursing staff of King's Cross Hospital for their care of the patients and to Sister Alma Mitchell for her help in the collection of specimens for bacteriological examination. Dr. A. Isaacs very kindly typed the influenza strains submiitted to the World Influenza Centre of the World Health Organization, London. The antigens and convalescent positive sera used in the complement-fixation test were supplied by the Standards Laboratory for Serological Reagents, Colindale.

Detection of influenza virus RNA by reverse transcription-PCR and proinflammatory cytokines in influenza-virus-associated encephalopathy

“…Influenza-associated encephalopathy, which occurs at the height of illness and may be fatal, has been described by many investigators [Dunbar et al, 1958;Flewett and Hoult, 1958;McConkey et al, 1958;Delorme and Middleton, 1979;Protheroe and Mellor, 1991;Murphy and Webster, 1996]. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is usually normal, the brain shows severe congestion at autopsy, and histological changes are minimal [Murphy and Webster, 1996].…”