A recent study underscores the importance of considering neurologic complications when discussing flu vaccination and treatment for children. Published in Academic Pediatrics, the research reveals concerning data on influenza-associated neurologic events in children under the age of five, with a focus on those with underlying neurologic conditions.
The study, titled “Serious Neurologic Events with Seasonal Influenza in Young Children,” examined the population-based incidence of severe neurologic complications associated with the flu in this vulnerable age group. While these complications are rare, the study found that children with pre-existing neurologic conditions faced a significantly higher risk—nearly 50 times greater—than their healthy peers.
“This study is the first to quantify how frequently young children with influenza experience serious neurologic events,” said James Antoon, MD, Ph.D., MPH, an assistant professor of Pediatrics at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. “Before this, we had no clear understanding of the frequency of these complications. Raising awareness about these events is crucial.”
The research focused on influenza-related hospitalizations with neurologic diagnoses, which included seizures, meningitis, encephalitis, encephalopathy, altered mental status, and movement disorders such as ataxia.
Brooke Quertermous, MD, a third-year Pediatrics resident at Monroe Carell and the study’s lead author, emphasized the need for improved vaccination and treatment strategies. “Our findings highlight the importance of targeting vaccination and therapeutic efforts towards the most vulnerable children at highest risk for these complications,” she said.
The retrospective study analyzed data from 79,727 flu cases among 70,258 children enrolled in Tennessee’s Medicaid program during the 2016-2020 flu seasons. Tennessee, one of the five states with the highest flu rates, was highlighted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for its “very high” flu activity level for the week ending February 1.
Antoon urged greater public health communication, noting that Tennessee’s flu season is particularly severe this year. “The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and other agencies have issued advisories on increased serious neurologic complications, particularly necrotizing encephalitis and encephalopathy, in children this season,” he said.
This study serves as a call to action for heightened awareness and targeted public health strategies to prevent and treat influenza-related neurologic complications in young children.
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