giant cell pneumonia
a rare, often fatal form of interstitial pneumonia caused by the measles virus, affecting children with disease of the reticuloendothelial system (such as leukemia), as well as immunocompromised or otherwise weakened adults; characteristics include multinucleate giant cell inclusion bodies, high fever, tachypnea, hypoxemia, and a harsh dry cough. Called also Hecht p.
Medical dictionary.
2011.