Two cases of severe pneumonia after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake
10.5365/wpsar.2012.3.2.002
- Author:
Toshihide Nakadate
;
Yutaka Nakamura
;
Kohei Yamauchii
;
Shigeatu Endo
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
pneumonia;
Great East Japan Earthquake;
case report
- From:
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response
2012;3(4):67-70
- CountryWHO-WPRO
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
In 2011, during the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, 90% of victims died from drowning. We report on two tsunami survivors with severe pneumonia potentially caused by Legionella pneumophila. Both victims aspirated a large quantity of contaminated water; sand, mud and a variety of microbes were thought to have entered into their lower respiratory tracts. One patient had a mycotic intracranial aneurysm; the other patient had co-infections with several organisms, including Scedosporium species. Although scedosporiosis is a relatively rare infectious disease, symptoms are progressive and prognosis is poor. These pathogens are not specific for tsunami lung, but are reported causative agents for pneumonia after near-drowning.
