Abstract
Objectives: To summarize the characteristics and research progress of influenza-associated brain complications in children and provide references for early diagnosis and brain protection treatment. Methods: Studied published articles of influenza-associated neurocomplications in children from PubMed and summarizes them from epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment, and basic research progress. Results: Common brain complications in flu-children include febrile seizures, influenza-associated encephalopathy (IAE), acute or post-influenza encephalitis, and the most severe condition is acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE). However, the mechanism and relevant factors of influenza-associated brain damage have not been elucidated. Conclusion: Influenza could be accompanied by various brain lesion complications in dif ferent stages of the disease, some of which are life-threatening or leave severe neurological sequelae, such as ANE. Due to different brain injury mechanisms, specific early diagnosis and brain protection treatment for different complications are unclear or unanimous. Therefore, further classification and basic research are needed.
Highlights
Influenza in children is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide
We review the published articles of influenza-associated neurocomplications in children from PubMed, and summarizes them from epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment, and basic research progressing, in order to provide references for early diagnosis and brain protection treatment during influenza seasons
Factors related to increased mortality rate include [3] [4]: Children under 5 years old (Children under 2 years old are prone to higher incidence of serious complications); Persons over 65 years old; Persons with the following diseases or symptoms: chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, kidney disease, liver disease, blood system diseases, nervous system and neuromuscular diseases, metabolic and endocrine diseases, inhibition of immune responses; Obesity ( Body Mass Index CDC (BMI) greater than 30); Pregnancy and perinatal women; Concomitant infection by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae [2]
Summary
Influenza in children is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Annual epidemics in adults and children are associated with an estimated 3 - 5 million cases of severe illness, and about 290,000 - 650,000 deaths. Influenza is an acute infectious disease caused by influenza viruses, which spreads between people through droplets and contact, with fast and high transmission It is mainly spread via children, who are generally more susceptible to infection. Factors related to increased mortality rate include [3] [4]: Children under 5 years old (Children under 2 years old are prone to higher incidence of serious complications); Persons over 65 years old; Persons with the following diseases or symptoms: chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases (excluding hypertension), kidney disease, liver disease, blood system diseases, nervous system and neuromuscular diseases, metabolic and endocrine diseases, inhibition of immune responses (including low immune function induced by the use of immunosuppressants or HIV infection); Obesity ( BMI greater than 30); Pregnancy and perinatal women; Concomitant infection by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae [2]. Children without high-risk medical conditions were more likely to die before hospital admission and within 3 days of symptom onset than those with high-risk medical conditions [5]
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