Neurologic Complications Associated With Influenza A in Children During the 2003–2004 Influenza Season in Houston, Texas

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Objectives. Our objectives were to (1) describe the clinical characteristics of and viruses isolated from patients who presented with neurologic symptoms associated with influenza A infection and were hospitalized at Texas Children's Hospital during October and November 2003 and (2) to raise awareness of the neurologic complications of influenza among US children.Methods. We reviewed the medical and laboratory records of all children who were hospitalized with neurologic symptoms and who also had evidence of influenza virus infection by rapid antigen testing or viral isolation.

Encephalopathy During H1N1 Influenza a Virus Infection / Encefalopatija Kod Infekcije Virusom Influence A Podtip H1N1

“…Since the beginning of the pandemic wave caused by influenza A H1N1 virus, a rather small number of works which describe neurological manifestations caused by this virus have been published. A group of researchers from a national centre for diagnosing, monitoring and controlling infectious diseases in Texas reported seven cases of H1N1 infection associated with neurological complications (10,11). The virus was isolated from nasopharyngeal secretions but not from CSF.…”

Neurologic Complications and Outcomes of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Korean Children

“…Seizure has been reported as the most common neurologic complication of seasonal influenza A and B (6,17), as well as pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (8,18), but shows good prognosis. In contrast, encephalopathy is rare, but it can cause a serious outcome, especially in patients of young age or with underlying neuromuscular disorder (6).…”

A 33-Month-Old With Fever and Altered Mental Status

“…8,9 In the United States, 2% to 4% of all children will have a febrile seizure in their life. However, up to 20% of children hospitalized with influenza have a febrile seizure, which is significantly higher than children hospitalized with parainfluenza or adenovirus, suggesting this is at least partially influenza-specific.…”

“…10,11 Encephalopathy, frontal lobe syndromes, visual hallucinations, mutism, movement disorders, and neuropsychiatric problems are also common. 9,[11][12][13] In the bigger clinical picture, some children meet criteria for acute necrotizing encephalopathy, a fulminant process with multifocal necrotizing lesions in the thalamus, Influenza-associated encephalitis is most commonly associated with influenza A and is most common in children under the age of 5 years. [12][13][14] Symptoms generally start a few days to 1 week after clinical onset of infection.…”