Overview

• A multicenter JAMA case series confirms 41 pediatric ANE cases across 23 U.S. hospitals during the 2023–25 flu seasons, a sharp rise from historical rates.
• The condition carried a 27% mortality rate, with deaths occurring a median of three days after symptom onset, primarily from cerebral herniation.
• Among survivors, 63% exhibited moderate to severe neurological disability at 90-day follow-up, including spasticity, dystonia, and ventilator dependence.
• Only 16% of children with known vaccination history had received their seasonal flu shot and nearly all fatalities were in unvaccinated patients.
• Researchers and CDC experts are advocating for formal national tracking of ANE cases and aggressive early intervention protocols to improve outcomes.