Sasi Sreethish, Ben Abid Fatma, Altayeb Alamin Mohammed, Iqbal Javed, Al-Maslamani Muna
Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, Communicable Diseases Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Department of Nursing, Communicable Diseases Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar*Correspondence: Sreethish Sasi. Email:
Qatar Med J. 2025 Jan 30;2025(1):26. doi: 10.5339/qmj.2025.26. eCollection 2025.
Influenza infections are recognized globally for their respiratory manifestations, but are less commonly associated with severe cardiovascular complications such as cardiac tamponade. The relationship between influenza infections, particularly influenza B, and cardiac complications such as myocarditis, pericarditis, and cardiac tamponade remains underexplored, particularly in immunocompetent individuals.
We report the case of a 22-year-old immunocompetent female who presented to the emergency department with acute shortness of breath, fatigue, and dizziness due to symptoms suggestive of an influenza-like illness. Laboratory and imaging findings revealed a large circumferential pericardial effusion suggestive of cardiac tamponade. Subsequent investigations confirmed influenza B infection. The patient was managed with pericardiocentesis, oseltamivir, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, colchicine, and supportive care, resulting in complete recovery. This case highlights the significance of considering influenza as a potential cause of acute cardiac complications and the importance of early diagnostic and therapeutic interventions to prevent morbidity and mortality.
The occurrence of cardiac tamponade secondary to influenza B infection in a young, immunocompetent female highlights the critical need to educate healthcare providers about the potential cardiovascular complications of influenza. The mechanisms underlying influenza-associated cardiac involvement may include direct viral invasion, systemic inflammation, and immune-mediated responses.
This case contributes to the limited but growing body of literature on influenza-induced cardiac complications and highlights the importance of timely antiviral therapy alongside traditional management strategies for cardiac tamponade. Further research is needed to elucidate the pathophysiology of influenza-related cardiac complications and to provide guidelines for the management of such cases.
流感感染因其呼吸道表现而在全球范围内受到认可，但较少与严重的心血管并发症如心脏压塞相关。流感感染，尤其是乙型流感，与心肌炎、心包炎和心脏压塞等心脏并发症之间的关系仍未得到充分研究，特别是在免疫功能正常的个体中。
我们报告了一名22岁免疫功能正常的女性病例，她因疑似流感样疾病的症状，出现急性呼吸急促、疲劳和头晕，前往急诊科就诊。实验室和影像学检查发现大量环形心包积液，提示心脏压塞。随后的检查证实为乙型流感感染。该患者接受了心包穿刺、奥司他韦、非甾体抗炎药、秋水仙碱和支持治疗，最终完全康复。该病例强调了将流感视为急性心脏并发症潜在病因的重要性，以及早期诊断和治疗干预对于预防发病和死亡的重要性。
一名年轻、免疫功能正常的女性因乙型流感感染继发心脏压塞，这突出表明迫切需要对医疗保健提供者进行关于流感潜在心血管并发症的教育。流感相关心脏受累的潜在机制可能包括病毒直接侵袭、全身炎症和免疫介导反应。
该病例为关于流感诱发心脏并发症的有限但不断增加的文献做出了贡献，并强调了及时进行抗病毒治疗以及采用传统心脏压塞管理策略的重要性。需要进一步研究以阐明流感相关心脏并发症的病理生理学，并为此类病例的管理提供指导方针。
