ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Influenza-associated neurologic complications in children are diverse. But there has been little long-term and large-scale research about neurologic complications of seasonal influenza. This study aimed to identify the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors for neurologic complications in children hospitalized with influenza. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 940 children hospitalized with confirmed influenza infection from Oct, 2010 to May, 2016 in Kwangju Christian Hospital. RESULTS: A total of 940 children with influenza were hospitalized, of whom 96 (10.2%) had neurologic complications:81 children presented febrile seizures (8.6%) and some included 12 other seizures (1.3%),1 encephalitis (0.1%), 1 Guillain-Barré syndrome (0.1%), 1 aseptic meningitis (0.1%). They had good prognosis except the encephalitis child. The incidence of neurologic complications was significantly higher in influenza A than in influenza B (11.9% vs. 7.0%, P=0.036). The incidence of influenza A was highest in February, while that of influenza B was highest in March and April. The monthly distribution of neurological complications reflected the influenza incidence. The risk factors for influenza-associated neurologic complications were underlying neurologic disease and young age. No significant clinical differences were observed between influenza A and B in febrile seizure. CONCLUSION: Febrile seizures are the most common neurologic complication with good prognosis. Although encephalitis/encephalopathy is rare, it can be severe with sequelae, so prompt diagnosis and treatment should be initiated. And influenza vaccine should be encouraged to children with underlying neurologic disease.