More seizure cases from swine flu "likely," says CDC

By Sheilah Downey

As the H1N1 pandemic proceeds into the fall season, neurological problems associated with the disease are expected to affect more children, doctors at the Centers for Disease Control reported today.

Because children are more susceptible to the swine flu and neurological problems have cropped up in other flu seasons, it's likely that the trend will be the same with this pandemic, wrote doctors.

Flu-related neurological complications were reported in 6 percent of childhood deaths in the 2003-04 flu season in the United States, stated the CDC. 

The report described the cases of four children aged 7 to 17 years who were admitted to hospitals in Dallas County, Texas in May with neurologic complications associated with the swine flu. Three of the four patients had abnormal electroencephalograms (EEGs) stated the report. All four patients recovered after antiviral treatments were administered in hospitals. Only two of the four had seizures and all had recovered fully at the time of discharge.

But, doctors wrote, considering that "children appear to be infected with novel influenza A (h1N1) virus more frequently than adults, additional neurologic complications in children are likely to be reported as the pandemic continues."

Doctors stated that if children have unexplained seizures or mental status changes associated with the flu, doctors should promptly initiate empirical antiviral treatment.

Neurological problems associated with the flu can be manifested as seizures, altered consciousness, incoherence, irritability and psychotic behaviors.