A recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed a concerning trend in seasonal flu deaths among children. According to the data, 13% of children who died from flu this season had influenza-associated encephalopathy or encephalitis, a severe neurologic complication.
The CDC’s Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality Surveillance System tracked 68 US child deaths due to seasonal influenza as of February 8. Of these, 9 cases were confirmed to have IAE, with 4 resulting in acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE), the most severe form of IAE.
The CDC notes that ANE is a rare but deadly complication of flu infection, often requiring mechanical ventilation and other life-supporting measures. This season’s cases show that all 4 children with fatal ANE were under 5 years old and had been vaccinated against flu, but still died due to the virus.
Researchers say that IAE is more common than previously thought, affecting 9% of pediatric flu-related deaths over the past 15 years. The data also reveal that only 20% of patients with fatal IAE received flu vaccination before becoming ill, highlighting the need for better protection measures against seasonal flu.
As there is currently no dedicated national surveillance for IAE or ANE, it’s unclear if this season’s numbers will be different from expected cases. However, experts warn that healthcare providers should consider IAE in children with symptoms like seizures, altered mental status, and hallucinations to prevent unnecessary deaths.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-general/cdc-13-kids-who-died-flu-year-had-brain-damage