title: Treatment of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009-associated encephalopathy in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The novel pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus (influenza A(H1N1)pdm09) caused an epidemic of critical illness, with some patients developing fatal encephalopathy as well as pneumonia.
  
  
  METHODS
  To investigate the actual efficacy of treatments, we investigated data from questionnaires regarding 207 cases that occurred between September 2009 and February 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The outcomes were recorded in 188 of the 207 cases; 16 of 188 patients died, while 23 had sequelae. Anti-influenza drugs in patients with severe coma (Glasgow coma scale score of ≤ 8) were statistically effective. In 165 out of 199 cases, steroid pulse treatment with methylprednisolone was given at an early stage. Other intensive treatments were mostly administered in serious cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Controlled studies are needed to investigate the efficacy of other treatments except for anti-influenza drugs.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. hisashi@tokyo-med.ac.jp
authors: Hisashi
authors: H
authors: Kawashima
authors: Shinichiro
authors: S
authors: Morichi
authors: Akihisa
authors: A
authors: Okumara
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Nakagawa
authors: Tsuneo
authors: T
authors: Morishima
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents