Influenza can cause myocarditis or sudden death: Insights from emergency physicians

[Ming Pao News]A 38-year-old female teaching assistant who worked in a primary school in Tung Chung was lying on her desk the evening before yesterday (5th). It is reported that she had sought medical treatment for muscle pain last week, and the doctor diagnosed her with muscle inflammation caused by influenza. A specialist in the emergency department pointed out that influenza can cause myocarditis or sudden death, but the probability is less than one in ten thousand. (Editor’s note: Another specialist in the emergency department said that the medical profession usually regards the age of 35 as the boundary. Sudden death before the age of 35 may be due to the patient’s congenital disease, but the three main causes of sudden death after the age of 35 are recessive heart disease, ventricular Tremors and cerebral hemorrhages are often difficult to detect even with regular physical examinations.)

An emergency doctor said that the medical field usually regards 35 years old as the boundary. Sudden death before the age of 35 may be caused by the patient’s congenital diseases, but the three major causes of sudden death after the age of 35 are mostly related to heart and brain diseases.

Teaching Assistant Sudden Death Emergency Physician: Influenza can cause myocarditis 3 major causes of sudden death after 35 years old

At 6 o’clock in the evening the day before yesterday, a 38-year-old female teaching assistant surnamed Zhan from Ho Yu Middle School and Ho Yu Primary School hosted by Sik Sik Yuen was lying on her desk in the teacher’s room. Ambulancemen arrived at the scene and sent her to North Lantau Hospital, where she was certified dead after rescue. The police listed the case as death while being transported to the hospital, and the cause of death is yet to be determined after an autopsy.

It is understood that the teaching assistant went to North Lantau Hospital for medical treatment last Monday (May 29) due to muscle pain. The doctor diagnosed her with muscle inflammation caused by influenza and prescribed medicine. On the morning of the incident, she went to work as usual, and there was no abnormality, and she was still chatting with her colleagues until nearly 5 in the evening.

The principal of the school, Mai Minchao, said that the deceased had worked in the school for more than a year, mainly dealing with clerical and administrative tasks, such as collecting test papers, and did not often take sick leave in the past. Mak said that the incident happened suddenly, “Colleagues are really sad, we have worked together for a while”, and quoted the school sponsoring organization saying that they will keep in touch with the mother of the deceased and provide assistance and support to the other party if necessary.

Doctor: Sudden death after the age of 35 is mostly due to heart and brain diseases. Main causes: hidden heart disease, ventricular fibrillation, cerebral hemorrhage

Feng Xianda, a specialist in the emergency department, said that influenza can cause myocarditis, affect the blood output function of the heart, or cause irregular heartbeat, and eventually cause death from heart failure, but he described the situation as rare. Generally speaking, patients with mild myocarditis may experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest discomfort. However, if acute and severe arrhythmia occurs, the patient may have weakened the pumping function of the heart in just a few seconds. If there is no blood within a few minutes Once it reaches the brain, it can already cause death.

Another specialist in the emergency department said that there are many reasons for the sudden death, and the real cause of death can only be determined after the forensic autopsy. However, influenza or viral viruses may indeed cause myocarditis, induce sudden arrhythmia or heart failure, and lead to death, but the probability is less than one in ten thousand.

Difficult to find in general physical examination, need specific examination for symptoms

Peng Jimao, a specialist in the emergency department, said that the medical field usually regards 35 years old as the boundary. Sudden death before the age of 35 may be due to the patient’s congenital disease, but the three main causes of sudden death after the age of 35 are recessive heart disease, ventricular fibrillation and cerebral hemorrhage. For example, the patient’s cardiovascular narrows, and a blood clot happens to block the blood vessel, resulting in no blood flow to the heart; heartbeat disorder, abnormal heart pulse, ventricular fibrillation, and eventually death; or brain blood vessel burst, resulting in cerebral hemorrhage.

Peng continued that even if the patient regularly checks the body, it is usually difficult to find the above problems, because the detection of the above diseases requires specific examinations. For example, the detection of cardiovascular occlusion must be detected through cardiac angiography and cardiac catheterization; ventricular fibrillation must be detected through invasive cardiac examinations; Cerebral hemorrhage depends on brain and cerebral angiography. The above examinations are usually arranged after the patient has relevant symptoms, such as cardiac arrest, frequent headaches, and seeks help from a doctor.