The Health Bureau (SSM) said yesterday evening that a four-year-old girl suffering from influenza died of heart failure resulting from hyperthyroidism complicated by dilated cardiomyopathy yesterday morning.
The bureau made the announcement during a press conference about Macau’s latest situation of seasonal influenza. The presser took place at the public Conde de Sao Januario Hospital Centre.
According to the press conference, the girl – aged four years and five months – was taken by her family to the public Conde de Sao Januario Hospital Centre on Sunday as she was short of breath and suffered from swelling of her lower limbs. She was hospitalised after receiving treatment in the emergency department.
The girl was then diagnosed with hyperthyroidism complicated by dilated cardiomyopathy – a rare disease for children, and the hospital then provided her with treatment for the condition, according to the press conference.
On Tuesday, the girl began to have a fever and her respiratory tract samples confirmed that she suffered from influenza Type A, according to the press conference.
According to the press conference, the girl was put on a ventilator on Tuesday night as her condition deteriorated.
The girl’s condition further worsened in the early hours of yesterday. Her heartbeat and blood pressure became unstable. In the morning, she died of heart failure, according to the press conference.
After jointly analysing the girl’s clinical data, several paediatric specialists came to a conclusion that she died of heart failure due to hyperthyroidism complicated by dilated cardiomyopathy and that her death was not related to influenza, according to yesterday’s press conference.
The girl had her first shot of flu vaccination in October last year and the second shot in the following month.
Meanwhile, the condition of a four-year-old boy suffering from serious Type A influenza associated with encephalitis – whose critical condition was revealed by the authorities last Monday – has been slowly improving, Health Bureau officials said during yesterday’s press conference.
According to the press conference, Macau recorded 27 cases of serious influenza associated with pneumonia or other serious complications between September last year and Tuesday.
During yesterday’s press conference, Health Bureau officials said that the government expects the current peak flu season to last for a “certain” period of time and urged residents to pay close attention to the prevention of influenza.
The government has repeatedly urged residents to get their annual flu shots.
