Key result
Post-influenza encephalopathy in children is linked to severe outcomes, with ~56% developing sequelae.
Why the study?
Clinical features and treatment outcomes of influenza-associated encephalitis and encephalopathy in children were not well characterized.
What are the clinical features and treatment outcomes of influenza-associated encephalitis/encephalopathy in children?
Observational (n=16)
No
What are the clinical features and treatment outcomes of influenza-associated encephalitis/encephalopathy in children?
Influenza-associated encephalitis/encephalopathy in children is an early complication with high rates of mortality (18.8%) and neurological sequelae (56.3%).
High morbidity in pediatric influenza encephalopathy warrants clinical vigilance; case reports leave open need for prospective studies on risk factors and therapies.
Objectives. This study aims to report clinical features and treatment outcomes of 16 cases diagnosed with post-influenza encephalopathy/encephalitis. Methods. We recorded clinical characteristics of 16 pediatric patients diagnosed with post-influenza encephalopathy/encephalitis at the Vietnam National Children’s Hospital from January 2019 to January 2021. Results. There were 87.5% infected with influenza A, with influenza A/H1pdm09 and influenza A/H3 accounting for 88.9% and 11.1% respectively, and 12.5% of participants infected with influenza B. The time from onset to the appearance of neurological symptoms was 3 days, of which perceptual changes (93.8%), hypertonia (75%), and seizures (43.8%) were prevalent neurological symptoms. The majority of cases had normal cerebrospinal fluid. Cranial CT/MRI imaging revealed abnormalities in 87.5% of patients. 56.3% of patients had sequelae, including epilepsy and cerebral palsy; 25% recovered, and 18.8% died after treatment. Conclusions. Influenza-associated encephalitis/encephalopathy is a complication occurring early in children, with high mortality and sequelae rates.
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Nguyen et al. (2024) conducted an observational in Post-influenza encephalopathy/encephalitis (n=16). Post-influenza encephalopathy/encephalitis was evaluated on Treatment outcomes (sequelae, recovery, and mortality). Post-influenza encephalopathy/encephalitis in children resulted in high rates of sequelae (56.3%) and mortality (18.8%), with only 25% of patients recovering.
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