H1N1 Swine Flu causing ARDS

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Above Chest X-ray shows patchy densities covering mostly basal and medial parts of both lungs. This is a case of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) as a complication of the H1N1 virus infection. This virus on contrary to common flu virus has capacity to bind to the cellular receptors that are situated deep in the lungs. Therefore can cause massive pneumonia very rapidly. On contrary common flu virus binds mostly to the receptors in the upper respiratory tract.
Pandemic flu can infect cells deep in the lungs, says new research

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