Pathological findings in influenza A (H5N1) infection.

ABSTRACT

This report includes pathological findings in the two patients who died of avian flu infection in Thailand. One of them was the first confirmed human case of H5N1 infection reported in Thailand. The other was the first case that was probably infected by person-to-person transmission. The most affected organ systems are respiratory and reticuloendothelial systems. Both cases revealed diffuse alveolar damage, which is the major cause of death. The former also showed superimposed pulmonary fungal infection.