Analysis on death cases from acute encephalopathy associated with influenza/corona virus disease 2019 in children
10.3760/cma.j.issn.1673-4912.2025.02.007
- VernacularTitle:儿童流行性感冒病毒/新型冠状病毒相关急性脑病死亡病例分析
- Author:
Qin YU
1
;
Shuiyan WU
1
;
Xubei GUO
1
;
Ying LI
1
;
Zhenjiang BAI
1
Author Information
1. 苏州大学附属儿童医院重症医学科 251025
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Children;
Influenza;
Corona virus disease 2019;
Acute encephalopathy;
Acute necrotizing encephalopathy
- From:
Chinese Pediatric Emergency Medicine
2025;32(2):110-115
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the clinical features of death in children with acute encephalopathy associated with influenza and corona virus disease 2019（COVID-19）and to enhance pediatrician's understanding of this disease.Methods:Clinical data of children with influenza and COVID-19-related acute encephalopathy hospitalized in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Children's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University from September 2021 to July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.The cases were divided into survival group and death group according to outcome.The general condition，clinical manifestations，auxiliary examination and treatment between the two groups were compared and analyzed.Results:A total of 41 pediatric patients were enrolled.In the death group,there were 17 cases,including 15 cases of acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE); among them,there were 7 male patients and 10 female patients,with a median age of 3.50 years.Eight patients were infected with influenza A virus,3 with influenza B virus,and 6 with SARS-CoV-2.The survival group comprised 24 cases,including 10 cases of ANE; among them,there were 16 male patients and 8 female patients,with a median age of 4.33 years.Fourteen patients were infected with influenza A virus,4 with influenza B virus,and 6 with SARS-CoV-2.None of the patients in the death group has received influenza and COVID-19 vaccines within 1 year before infection.Common symptoms were fever and disturbance of consciousness in the death group，eight cases had mild cough，seven cases had convulsions ≥three times，one case had two convulsions，nine cases had only one seizure，of which five cases were epileptic status.One case had delirium before convulsions.Seventeen cases began to fall into a coma (6.50±1.50) hours after their first onset of convulsion.Two patients had secondary pulmonary infection.Nine cases showed significantly elevated interleukin-6,while 17 cases had normal cerebrospinal fluid cell counts and 14 cases had elevated protein levels.All 17 cases underwent cranial CT scans,among which 13 showed symmetric necrosis of the bilateral thalami.All patients in the death group underwent glucocorticoid and intravenous immunoglobulin pulse therapy.Eleven patients received continuous renal replacement therapy,ten patients received intrathecal dexamethasone injection,and two patients were treated with tocilizumab.One patient underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.Among the eight influenza patients,neuraminidase inhibitors were first administered 48 hours after the onset of fever.None of the six patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 received nirmatrelvir/ritonavir antiviral treatment.The causes of death in 17 patients included ANE(15 cases) and secondary infections(2 cases).Compared with the survival group,the incidence of brainstem involvement,shock,and low Glasgow coma scores (GCS ≤ 4) were significantly higher in the death group(15/17 vs.2/24， χ 2=26.18， P<0.001；16/17 vs.5/24， χ 2=21.39， P<0.001；14/17 vs.5/24， χ 2=15.15， P<0.001). Conclusion:Acute encephalopathy is primarily characterized by recurrent convulsions and disturbances of consciousness.Influenza and COVID-19 are the main causes.Cranial imaging is helpful for clinical diagnosis.Involvement of the brainstem,occurrence of shock,and GCS≤4 are associated with a higher fatality rate of ANE.
