Study: How often do children diagnosed with flu experience serious neuropsychiatric side effects?

A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics has found that children diagnosed with the flu are at an increased risk of experiencing serious neuropsychiatric side effects.

The study, conducted by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, looked at data from over 150,000 children who were diagnosed with the flu between 2016 and 2020. The researchers found that children who were treated with the antiviral medication Tamiflu were at an increased risk of experiencing neuropsychiatric side effects, such as seizures, encephalitis, and altered mental status. However, the study also found that children who were not treated with Tamiflu were also at an increased risk of experiencing these side effects.

The researchers say that their findings highlight the importance of understanding the frequency and context in which neuropsychiatric events occur in children with the flu. They also say that parents and providers should be aware of the potential risks of neuropsychiatric side effects when making decisions about treatment for the flu.

The study's findings are in line with previous research that has shown that the flu can be associated with a variety of neuropsychiatric side effects. However, the new study is one of the first to quantify the risk of these side effects in a large population of children.

The researchers say that their findings could help to inform future guidelines for the treatment of the flu in children. They also say that their findings could help to raise awareness of the potential risks of neuropsychiatric side effects in children with the flu.

Journal Information: James Antoon et al, Population-Based Incidence of Influenza-Associated Serious Neuropsychiatric Events in Children, JAMA Pediatrics (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.2304. jamanetwork.com/journals/jamap … cle-abstract/2807627