The Brain and the flu

Why vaccination matter more than ever!! Recent study shows the association of flu with neurological symptoms.

Influenza cases were on the rise in the last few months and with flu there was an increase in cases of febrile seizure in children. Influenza is associated with neurological complications like Reye syndrome, Guillain – Barre syndrome (GBS), seizures, and transverse myelitis.¹

In the pediatric population, mainly flu-related encephalopathy has been seen, which can be fatal.² Recently, a study has been done that shows the association of flu with neurological symptoms.

When discussing vaccination against the flu and its treatment with families, we often don’t consider the association of flu with neurological complications, and partially its due to unawareness regarding the same. An article has been published in Academic Pediatrics titled “Serious Neurologic Events with Seasonal Influenza in Young Children” that studies the incidence of underestimated flu-associated serious neurological impact in children below 5 years of age. The study was a retrospective study done on children below 5 years of age who had enrolled in the Tennessee Medicaid program from the 2016 – 2020 influenza season. About 79,727 cases of flu with 70,258 special children were included. The study showed that in children with underlying neurological problems, the risk of serious neurological complications was 50 times more than in children without any underlying risk.³ James Antoon assistant professor of Pediatrics at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt commented that Tennessee is one of the top states with a flu-like illness and this is one of the primary studies that has compiled the frequency of neurological complications in young children and emphasized that awareness about the impact is required. The definition of influenza-associated serious neurologic events following the study was influenza-associated hospitalization with a neurological diagnosis. Episodes like seizures, encephalitis or encephalopathy, meningitis, altered sensorium, ataxia, and movement disorders were considered neurological events. This study highlights the need for timely vaccination and treatment for at-risk children to prevent these complications.

The higher rate of flu requires much more robust communication about its complications, especially necrotizing encephalitis and encephalopathy which have higher incidence this flu season than in previous years. So coming flu season stay vaccinated and spread awareness regarding its potential complications. 

References:

1. Newland JG, Laurich VM, Rosenquist AW, et al. Neurologic complications in children hospitalized with influenza: characteristics, incidence, and risk factors. J Pediatr 2007;150:306–310
2. Mizuguchi M, Yamanouchi H, Ichiyama T, Shiomi M. Acute encephalopathy associated with influenza and other viral infections. Acta Neurol Scand Suppl 2007;186: 45–56
3. Brooke P. Quertermous et al, Serious Neurologic Events with Seasonal Influenza in Young Children, Academic Pediatrics (2025)