[Myosotis in children with flu; a rare complication of influenza]

Influenza is a common viral infection, which occurs in yearly endemics during the winter period. Complications are mostly seen amongst the elderly, but may also be seen in previously healthy children; the airways and central nervous system, in particular, may be affected. Another complication of influenza, first described in 1957 and only sporadically discussed, is influenza associated myositis (IAM). In this article we describe three patients with IAM. IAM is mainly seen in children, and boys are more often affected than girls. It is most commonly seen in influenza type B. The pathogenesis is largely unknown, but the clinical presentation and laboratory results for IAM are quite typical. Clinical presentation may be very severe, and when the clinical symptoms are not recognized, invasive tests will often follow. Most cases of IAM are self-limiting, but a minority of the patients might experience life-threatening complications.