As the flu season approaches, the atmosphere is charged with apprehension. Christine Wear, a mother from River Forest, Illinois, expresses her worries, stating, “Anxieties are high. We’re trying to navigate what life should look like without being in a bubble.” Her concerns are deeply personal, as her 4-year-old son, Beckett, is still on the road to recovery from a severe flu infection he contracted earlier this year.
Within a week of his flu diagnosis in January, Beckett exhibited alarming symptoms, becoming extremely lethargic and unable to move his head or arms. This was not the first time he faced a serious complication from the flu. Wear recognized the issue immediately: Beckett was suffering from acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE), an inflammatory brain disease triggered by the influenza virus. “It has taken longer for his brain to recover,” she noted, highlighting the profound impact of the flu on her son’s health.
Recent statistics reveal a troubling increase in cases of pediatric ANE and other flu-related encephalopathies. During the 2024-25 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 109 children were diagnosed with this rare complication. This alarming statistic is compounded by the fact that the nation recorded 280 pediatric flu deaths last year, marking it as the deadliest season since the H1N1 pandemic of 2009-10. Additionally, vaccination rates among children against influenza have been declining, raising further concerns among healthcare professionals.
Dr. Buddy Creech, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, emphasizes the unpredictability of severe flu outcomes in children. “We don’t always know how to predict which kids are going to have the most severe forms of flu, which is why we recommend the vaccine for everyone,” he stated. Contrary to popular belief, complications from the flu can affect even previously healthy children.
Influenza-associated encephalopathy (IAE) occurs when the influenza virus attacks the nervous system, leading to a range of severe symptoms, including confusion, difficulty walking, and seizures. Dr. Molly Wilson-Murphy, a pediatric neurologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, points out that while ANE is one of several forms of IAE, it accounted for approximately one-third of the cases reported. Among the children diagnosed with IAE, the statistics are sobering: 74% required intensive care, 54% were placed on ventilators, and 19% tragically died.
“Flu is dangerous for children, period,” asserts Dr. Keith Van Haren, a co-author of the study and a pediatric neurologist at Stanford Medicine in Palo Alto, California. “That is not a mischaracterization.” The rise in severe complications from the flu this season necessitates urgent action and awareness among parents and healthcare providers alike.
Despite the known dangers of influenza, vaccination rates among children have seen a concerning decline. The seasonal flu vaccine, while often less effective compared to vaccines like the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, plays a crucial role in mitigating severe complications and fatalities associated with the flu. Dr. Van Haren emphasizes that the flu shot is the simplest and most effective way to protect children from serious illness.
The CDC reports that last year, the flu shot was up to 78% effective in preventing hospitalizations among children and teens. Alarmingly, 84% of children diagnosed with influenza-associated encephalopathy whose vaccination status was known had not received their flu shot. Furthermore, 90% of the 280 pediatric deaths last flu season occurred in unvaccinated children. “The best way to protect yourself and your family from influenza is for everyone to get vaccinated,” advises Dr. Sean O’Leary, an infectious diseases expert with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Despite the clear benefits of vaccination, the percentage of children receiving their flu shots has been on the decline. Last year, only 49.2% of children were vaccinated, a significant drop from 62.4% during the 2019-20 flu season. Dr. O’Leary points to several complex factors contributing to this decline, including increasing vaccine hesitancy and access to care issues. Many healthcare practices are also facing staffing shortages, limiting their ability to hold large vaccination clinics during convenient hours.
As the flu season looms, the importance of vaccination cannot be overstated. Parents are urged to prioritize flu shots for their children, not only to protect them but also to safeguard the health of the broader community. With rising rates of severe flu-related complications, it is crucial for families to stay informed and proactive in their healthcare decisions.
