Parents need to beware.
Health officials are looking into a rise in rare brain complications among children linked to the flu during a particularly severe flu season. The CDC reports that the flu has caused around 19,000 deaths so far, including 86 children. Out of these, nine child deaths were associated with serious brain conditions. These complications are known as influenza-associated encephalopathy (IAE), which causes brain inflammation due to the flu, and in more severe cases can develop into acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE), a more severe type of brain damage.
For the 2024-25 flu season, the CDC data shows that approximately 13% of child flu deaths involved these brain issues, with 166 children having been affected by such complications since 2010. The occurrence of these conditions varies by flu season, and since there is no formal system to track IAE or ANE, it’s challenging to determine if this season’s increase is unusual or a recurring pattern.
The CDC has urged health departments to report any additional cases and encouraged hospitals to test children with severe neurological symptoms for the flu. So far this season, four of the nine children affected by these brain complications developed the most severe form, ANE, with all of these children being under five years old. Many of these children required mechanical ventilation, and some experienced seizures. Health experts emphasize the need for early detection, as these complications can worsen quickly.
Despite the severity of this flu season, only about 45% of Americans have been vaccinated against the flu. Experts warn that while the flu vaccine may not entirely prevent infection, it can significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. Public health officials continue to push for more widespread vaccination to help prevent serious outcomes, given how widespread the flu has been this year.
Concerns are also mounting about next year’s flu vaccine, as decisions about which strains to target have been delayed. Experts are working to ensure transparency and better preparedness to protect the public from serious flu-related complications in the future.
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