HIV Adult with Fever and Shortness of Breath: Influenza B Misdiagnosed as Pneumocystis (carinii) jiroveci pneumonia (PCP)

We present a case of an elderly female with HIV on HAART who presented with shortness of breath assumed to have Pneumocystis (carinii) jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) even though she had a clinical diagnosis of influenza B. She was thought to have PCP only because she had HIV. Tests for PCP were negative including BAL staining. Influenza B present in her respiratory secretions by PCR and was also cultured from BAL fluid. Diagnostic associations are helpful in suggesting diagnostic possibilities but must be supported by clinical correlation of characteristic clinical features.
Source: IDCases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research