Which virus infection of the respiratory tract can trigger an extreme inflammatory response and sepsis?

• A. flu
• B. Cold
• C. Measles
• D. RSV

Answer: (A)

Some respiratory viral infections can trigger a body-wide inflammatory response that, if uncontrolled, leads to sepsis. The influenza virus is well known for this because in severe cases it can provoke a strong release of inflammatory mediators throughout the body, causing systemic symptoms, organ dysfunction, and even septic shock. It can also pave the way for bacterial pneumonia, which raises the risk of sepsis. By contrast, the common cold virus usually stays in the upper airway with milder symptoms; measles and RSV can be serious but don’t typically cause the same pattern of systemic inflammatory response leading to sepsis as a primary outcome. So the influenza virus best fits the idea of triggering extreme inflammation and sepsis.