Acute necrotizing encephalopathy with fatal outcome in a patient with fulminant influenza A (H1N1) infection

Influenza is a viral infection that spreads annually as an epidemic, and every few years as a pandemic. In most cases, the infection occurs with mild symptoms. However, severe illness with serious complications is possible, as certain subtypes of the virus, such as H1N1, are associated with a higher risk of more severe course of the infection. Neurological involvement, although rarely observed during acute influenza infection, is one of the serious complications with a risk of permanent damage or death. Children belong to the risk groups for whom vaccination after 6 months of age is of particular importance, both for limiting the spread of the infection and for preventing complications. We present a clinical case of a 6-year-old child with a fulminant course of infection with influenza A, subtype H1N1, with severe neurological involvement and fatal outcome.