Autopsy Cases of Pneumonia during the Influenza Epidemic in 1957

Abstract

Four autopsy cases of pneumonia were experienced in our hospital during the influenza epidemic in all Japan from summer to winter in 1957.
Case I: 21-year-old female. Influenza-like onset with a high fever and dyspnea. Hospitalized under the diagnosis of laryngeal diphtheria.
Case II: 6-year-old male. Sudden onset of dyspnea and unconsciousness. Expired under the so-called “ekiri reaction”.
Case III: 54-year-old male. Hypertonic person. Influenza-like onset with cramps.Expired with acute heart insufficiency
Case IV: 17-year-old female. Expired under the septic signs and symptoms.
The major findings of these four cases were the inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, i. e. purulent tracheitis and bronchitis associated with hemorrhagic bronchopneumonia. Degeneration, necrosis and regeneration of the epithelium of mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract were histologically noted, which have been described by Straub and Mulder as the findings characteristic of influenza virus infection. The interpretation of these investigators could not be fully agreed by the author. However, from the clinical course, the occurrence during the actually prevailing epidemic, the involvement of the upper respiratory tract and also the histological findings, an influenza virus infection might be concluded in these four cases, though no test was performed for the confirmation of viral infection.
From 2 cases, staphylococcus, probably originating from a secondary infection was isolated.