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The last influenza season (2024–2025) was categorized as high-severity with more cases and hospitalizations than the previous 14 years. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is also showing 109 rare cases of pediatric influenza-associated encephalopathy (IAE) occurred last year as well. Overall, 74% of IAE patients were admitted to an intensive care unit, and 19% died. Only 16% of vaccine-eligible IAE patients had received the 2024–2025 flu vaccine. Of the cases reported, 37 (34%) were subcategorized as acute necrotizing encephalopathy, a severe form of IAE with rapid neurologic decline and a poor prognosis. Among them, 41% died. Separately, CDC has also recently reported that the season witnessed 280 pediatric flu deaths overall—the second-highest number reported since child deaths became nationally notifiable in 2004.
What to watch for: The median age of children with IAE was 5 years, and 55% were previously healthy. According to CDC, providers should consider IAE in children with encephalopathy or altered level of consciousness and a recent or current febrile illness.