Severe influenza B myocarditis and myositis

Objective: To report an influenza B infection with associated myocarditis and severe skeletal myositis. Design: Case report. Setting: Cardiac intensive care unit in a university-affiliated children's hospital. Patient: A 4-yr-old girl. Results: The patient was successfully supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for profound myocardial dysfunction and a combination of plasmapheresis and continuous venovenous hemodialysis for rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure. Conclusions: This case provides a reminder that patients presenting with viral illness or myoglobinuria accompanied by renal failure, with or without associated myocarditis, may be demonstrating symptoms of influenza B.