Complications
(Primary) viral pneumonia
Due to incomprehensible reasons, the virus may lose its affinity to the respiratory epithelium and infect pulmonary alveoli. This is a serious, often lethal condition.
(Secondary) bacterial infections such as otitis media and bacterial pneumonia
If the respiratory epithelium is seriously damaged by virus replication, some bacteria ( Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus) sometimes use the opportunity and proliferate on the cell remnants. This is also a serious condition which requires antibiotic therapy.
