Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 22, 2026

A Murine Model of Dengue Virus-induced Acute Viral Encephalitis-like Disease
04:23

A Murine Model of Dengue Virus-induced Acute Viral Encephalitis-like Disease

Published on: April 28, 2019

Encephalopathy associated with influenza A

Martijn H Smidt1, Hans Stroink, Jos F M Bruinenberg

  • 1Department of Neurology, St Elisabeth Hospital, P.O. Box 90151, 5000 LC Tilburg, The Netherlands.

European Journal of Paediatric Neurology : EJPN : Official Journal of the European Paediatric Neurology Society
|September 3, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Influenza A virus can cause severe encephalopathy in children, leading to neurological deficits. Early diagnosis is crucial, even with atypical brain lesions and normal initial tests.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • Influenza A virus is a common respiratory pathogen.
  • Encephalopathy is a rare but serious complication of influenza, particularly in children.
  • Understanding the neurological manifestations of influenza is critical for timely diagnosis and management.

Observation:

  • A 3-year-old boy presented with influenza A virus-associated encephalopathy.
  • Clinical symptoms included fever, aphasia, seizures, and rapid decline in consciousness.
  • Diagnosis was confirmed by viral isolation, seroconversion, and MRI findings.

Findings:

  • The patient exhibited atypical brain lesions on MRI, despite normal initial cerebrospinal fluid analysis, including PCR.
  • Influenza A virus was repeatedly isolated from nasopharyngeal aspirates.
  • Serological tests showed a significant rise in antibodies against influenza A.

Implications:

  • Influenza A-associated encephalopathy can present with unusual neurological patterns and lesion distribution.
  • Normal initial MRI and CSF findings do not exclude severe neurological complications.
  • This case highlights the importance of considering influenza as a potential cause of encephalopathy in children, even with atypical presentations.

More Related Videos

In Vivo Imaging Systems (IVIS) Detection of a Neuro-Invasive Encephalitic Virus10:21

In Vivo Imaging Systems (IVIS) Detection of a Neuro-Invasive Encephalitic Virus

Published on: December 2, 2012

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain05:51

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain

Published on: July 24, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...
Hepatic Encephalopathy01:29

Hepatic Encephalopathy

DefinitionHepatic encephalopathy is a reversible neurologic syndrome that results from advanced liver dysfunction or portosystemic shunting. It leads to disturbances in cognition, behavior, and motor function due to the brain’s exposure to gut-derived toxins that the liver fails to detoxify.EtiologyThis condition develops either in the setting of acute fulminant hepatitis or progressively during chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Portosystemic shunting—including...
Arboviral Encephalitis01:25

Arboviral Encephalitis

Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
Influenza01:27

Influenza

Influenza is an acute, highly communicable viral disease that affects the respiratory tract and is responsible for seasonal epidemics worldwide. Influenza A is the most prevalent type associated with widespread outbreaks and is subtyped based on two surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), as in H1N1. These glycoproteins are essential for viral infectivity, transmission, and immune recognition. Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets and contaminated...
Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...