Open AccessThree cases of acute myositis in adults following influenza‑like illness during the H1N1 pandemic
Author(s) -
Summer Gibson,
Jennifer J. Majersik,
A. Gordon Smith,
Mark B. Bromberg
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of neurosciences in rural practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.331
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 0976-3147
pISSN - 0976-3155
DOI - 10.4103/0976-3147.105614
Subject(s) - medicine , myositis , weakness , outbreak , pandemic , myalgia , creatine kinase , muscle weakness , influenza a virus , virus , virology , intensive care medicine , covid-19 , surgery , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Acute viral myositis is a rare condition that occurs during the recovery phase of an illness, most commonly influenza. It is characterized by muscle pain and weakness with an isolated laboratory finding of elevated serum creatine kinase (CK). We describe three previously healthy patients who were hospitalized after developing myositis following influenza-like illness during the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus pandemic. All experienced myalgias and weakness in all four extremities, including distal upper extremities, associated with an elevated CK level that resolved along with their myalgias and weakness within one week with supportive care. These cases serve as a reminder that influenza-related myositis may have atypical characteristics depending on the strain of influenza, and clinicians should be open to this possibility when new outbreaks occur.