A PAEDIATRIC DEATH DUE TO MENINGITIS-AN AUTOPSY DIAGNOSIS OF A RARE COMPLICATION OF INFLUENZA B INFECTION

Inϐluenza virus belongs to a group of single-stranded RNA viruses in the family Orthomyxoviridae. They are subdivided into four types as A, B, C and D. As Inϐluenza B is considered a milder form of infection not known to be causing pandemics compared to Inϐluenza A, it is equally a less researched topic than Inϐluenza A. However, few studies have shown that the mortality associated with pediatric Inϐluenza B infection is equal to or sometimes even greater than the mortality associated with Inϐluenza A. Complications of Inϐluenza A or B virus infection include pneumonia, myositis, myocarditis and encephalitis/encephalopathy. Inϐluenza-associated encephalitis/encephalopathy (IAE) is a rare complication of Inϐluenza infection which is commoner following infection with type A. This case elaborates a death of a three-year-old child due to meningoencephalitis following Inϐluenza Type B infection.