Swine Flu Can Lead to Encephalitis in Kids

indigo girl · Nov 24, 2009

http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Swine-flu-girl-receives-last__gasp-miracle-cure-newsinkent30252.aspx?news=local

A four-year-old girl suffering from swine flu underwent a miracle cure after doctors treated her with a drug normally only used on adults.
Jessie, of Deal, Kent, became ill on October 27, when she had a fit while out shopping with her grandmother.
Despite not having a high temperature - a classic swine flu symptom - she was diagnosed with the virus.
At Evelina Children's Hospital her condition worsened and scans showed she was suffering from an inflammation of the brain called acute necrotizing encephalitis, which had not previously been seen in a swine flu victim.

(hat tip pfi/monotreme)

oramar · Nov 24, 2009

I have read articles about various neuro problems and the 1918 outbreak. I would not be suprised to see these sort of things. Matter of fact there is evidence that clusters of Parkinson's disease occur 10 to 30 years after the virus makes it's rounds.

indigo girl · Nov 24, 2009

Japan: Influenza Related Encephalopathy

Today we learn via the Daily Yomiuri Online that a surprising number of H1N1 patients in Japan have presented with encephalopathy since July.
In a normal year, Japanese health officials say they might see 40 to 50 such cases – but in the past four months they’ve seen more than twice that many.

More at: http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2009/11/japan-influenza-related-encephalopathy.html

indigo girl · Dec 1, 2009

Shenzhen, China

http://www.szcpost.com/2009/11/h1n1-caused-several-nerve-system-lesions-in-shenzhen.html

To have an usual number of cases of encephalitis in one locality is a concern.

The manifestation of a flu virus is not always going to present the same in every

area of the planet. Certain areas are going to see whatever the presenting strain is

capable of doing. For example, early in the pandemic, one country, Ghana I believe,

had many cases of conjunctivitis when people became infected with swine flu. We

did not see much of that presentation here though I personally had conjunctivitis,

and a mild case of "something" which may or may not have been swine flu. I'll

never know as I was not tested.

Encephalitis sometimes occurs with seasonal flu as well, but it is a very rare

complication. The Chinese are understandably worried to have nine cases in this

large city in Guangdong Province. Who knows what is happening elsewhere in

China? Very possibly, not even the Chinese know...

It's said that there are several children being treated in Shenzhen Children's Hospital, of which accumulated 9 have showed symptoms of pathological changes and 6 have been on the way of recovering. Except for the 11-year-old boy Yuan who has just died, another two boys with surname Yang and Tang who have been infected with vital encephalitis are still in deep coma.
According to the introduction of the hospital, the Children's Hospital received a 3-year-old boy surnamed Chen who has been infected with H1N1 flu days before. The boy's case was quite serious when coming to the hospital but he had no infection in brain.
According to the introduction, from the H1N1 flu epidemic in China, Shenzhen has the most H1N1 flu children with nerve system lesions. The frequent appearance of the pathological changes of never system has cause great attention of the health department, who have sampled and researched the pathogenesis of the viral encephalitis occurring on the serious children patients of H1N1 flu.

(hat tip pfi/monotreme)