Massive air leak secondary to influenza B in a 7-year-old: A case report

Influenza is an illness that affects individuals of all ages but its severity varies immensely: from the symptoms of a common cold to the deadly outbreak of the pandemic H1N1 strain in 2009. This case report describes the circumstances surrounding the critical illness of a healthy 7-year-old child who developed a massive air leak syndrome secondary to influenza B. She required the emergent insertion of a chest tube as well as intubation and mechanical ventilation. She developed severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and was strongly considered for being placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. She was treated with ceftriaxone and oseltamivir and slowly improved over the course of 20 days. The purpose of this report is to illustrate the severity of influenza with an emphasis on prevention with vaccination.