Harsh Flu Season Has Health Officials Worried About Brain Complications in Children

Severe Influenza Season Linked to Rare but Life-Threatening Brain Complications in Kids

This year’s flu season, the most intense in 15 years, has federal health officials trying to understand if it has sparked an increase in a rare but life-threatening brain complication in children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 19,000 people have died from the flu so far this winter, including 86 children. Thursday, the CDC reported at least nine of those children experienced brain complications, and it has asked state health departments to help investigate if there are more such cases.

Flu Vaccine Effectiveness

There is some good news: The CDC also reported that this year’s flu shots do a pretty good job preventing hospitalization from the flu — among the 45% of Americans who got vaccinated. "If you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet, get it because we’re still seeing high flu circulation in most of the country," said Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Flu shot effectiveness varies from year to year. While not great at blocking infections, the vaccine’s main role "is to keep you out of the hospital and to keep you alive," said Vanderbilt University vaccine expert Dr. William Schaffner.

Preliminary Data

Preliminary CDC data released Thursday found children who got this year’s vaccine were between 64% and 78% less likely to be hospitalized than their unvaccinated counterparts, and adults were 41% to 55% less likely to be hospitalized.

Brain Complications

Earlier this month, state health departments and hospitals warned doctors to watch for child flu patients with seizures, hallucinations or other signs of "influenza-associated encephalopathy or encephalitis" — and a more severe subtype called "acute necrotizing encephalopathy." Encephalitis is brain inflammation.

Unclear Whether There’s an Uptick in Brain Complications

Thursday, the CDC released an analysis of 1,840 child flu deaths since 2010, finding 166 with those neurologic complications. Most were unvaccinated. But the agency concluded it’s unclear if this year’s nine deaths with those complications — four of whom had the worse subtype — mark an uptick.

Call to Action

O’Leary, with the pediatricians’ academy, said parents should remember this complication is rare — the advice remains to seek medical advice anytime a child with flu has unusual or concerning symptoms, such as labored breathing.

Conclusion

The harsh flu season has raised concerns about brain complications in children, but it’s not too late to get vaccinated. If you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet, get it, as it’s still effective in preventing hospitalization from the flu.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the current status of the flu season?
  The current season is the most intense in 15 years, with an estimated 19,000 people having died from the flu, including 86 children.
• Are there concerns about brain complications in children?
  Yes, there are concerns about a rare but life-threatening brain complication in children, with at least nine reported cases so far this season.
• Is it too late to get vaccinated?
  No, it’s not too late to get vaccinated, as the flu shot is still effective in preventing hospitalization from the flu.
• What is the current effectiveness of the flu vaccine?
  This year’s flu shots do a pretty good job preventing hospitalization from the flu — among the 45% of Americans who got vaccinated.