Acute encephalopathy with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection

Tatsuo Fuchigami, Yuki Imai, Maki Hasegawa, Wakako Ishii, Ayumi Endo, Chikako Arakawa, Ryutaro Kohira, Koji Hashimoto, Yukihiko Fujita, Yasuji Inamo, Hideo Mugishima

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: In April 2009, a novel influenza A (H1N1) pdm virus was identified in Mexico and spread quickly around the world. However, the clinical features of acute encephalopathy associated with 2009 pandemic influenza have not yet been elucidated. METHODS: We treated 8 patients (3 boys and 5 girls) aged 4 to 11 years (average age, 8 y 3 months) with influenza virus-associated encephalopathy, who presented at our 2 hospitals between July 2009 and March 2010. We investigated the clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes in the patients. RESULTS: In all patients, brain computed tomography showed mild to severe diffuse cerebral edema, and electroencephalography revealed diffuse high-voltage slow waves. They were all treated with oseltamivir and methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Six patients recovered without any sequelae; however, the remaining 2 had residual neurological sequelae. These 2 patients presented with severe disturbance of consciousness, and their central nervous system symptoms appeared within 12 hours after the onset of fever. One patient had periventricular leukomalacia and symptomatic epilepsy by perinatal brain hypoxia, and the other patient had 1 complex febrile and 2 febrile seizures. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that patients with influenza-associated encephalopathy caused by influenza A (H1N1) pdm infection were all older than those with seasonal influenza. Underlying neurological disease or history may be associated with poor prognosis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)998-1002
Number of pages5
JournalPediatric Emergency Care
Volume28
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2012

Keywords

  • central nervous system disease
  • influenza A (H1N1) pdm virus
  • influenza-associated encephalopathy

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