Mark Hone Posted 11 September , 2011 Share Posted 11 September , 2011 Do Pals think that I am safe in concluding that a soldier described in the CWGC register as dying from 'broncho-pneumonia after gas poisoning and wounds' on 2nd December 1918 was a victim of the Spanish 'Flu pandemic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 11 September , 2011 Share Posted 11 September , 2011 The vast majority of Flu victims in 1918 died of lung infections such as pneumonia but the fact he had been subjected to gas poisoning would have likely damaged his lungs and allowed for infections to set in anyway. I don't think you can be 100% certain that it was Flu. There's an interesting article on the subject here - http://www.nih.gov/n...08/niaid-19.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc2 Posted 12 September , 2011 Share Posted 12 September , 2011 I would agree that that would NOT be a safe assumption. Broncho-Pneumonia is a more generic term, and can have several causes. It is not an uncommon cause of death, even today. You don't tell us if he was recently wounded/gassed and died in the hospital. If so, it could be more closely related to these insults than to the "flu". Doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trooper23 Posted 12 September , 2011 Share Posted 12 September , 2011 Also as he was wounded at least 3 weeks before his death he could have developed pneumonia secondary to prolonged lying in bed (no antibiotics, reduced cough caused by oversedation secondary to analgesics or conversely reduced cough due to pain in abdomen and no chest physio) He might even have developed pulmonary emboli ( secondary to either blood clots from his legs or fat from traumatised bones). Add this to gas insult to the lungs (destruction of lining, increased secretions) and I think on the balance of probabilities flu would be less likley to be the cause of death here. Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 12 September , 2011 Author Share Posted 12 September , 2011 Thanks, folks. I shall just put the straightforward phrase 'broncho-pneumonia'in my tour guidebook and avoid speculation about influenza. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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