Case reportAn adult autopsy case of acute encephalopathy associated with influenza A virus
Introduction
Influenza viruses cause respiratory tract infections. Recently, encephalopathy has received attention as a complication in infants [1], [2], [3]. In this study, we performed an autopsy on a 35-year-old male. Bronchopneumonia was observed macroscopically, but the existence of encephalopathy was not diagnosed until subsequent histopathological examination. In this report, we investigated pathological findings to diagnosis influenza encephalopathy as the cause of death in this case.
Section snippets
Case report
On a cold winter day, a 35-years-old male was arrested by the police for cheating and stealing food, ‘Sushi’. He told the policeman that he had not eaten a satisfactory meal for several days. He also complained of general fatigue and a slight fever. However, he did not receive medical treatment. Early the next morning, he was found dead in the police cell. Saliva-like fluid around the mouth and incontinence were observed, but there were no other abnormalities on macroscopic inspection. The body
Discussion
The macroscopic appearance of acute viral encephalitis as follows: meningeal opacity or vascular congestion, generalized or localized swelling of the brain, softening of neural tissue [5]. However, these findings are not specific, and would also be affected by the state immediately before death. Microscopically, cell infiltration around the vessels, glial nodules, neuronophagia, perivascular cuffing, and inclusion bodies are characteristic findings in viral infection [6]. These findings present
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