title: Pandemic A/H1N1 2009 influenza vaccination, preceding infections and clinical findings in UK children with Guillain-Barré syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To record clinical findings in all new cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) or Fisher syndrome (FS) in UK children in the 2 years following September 2009 and determine the proportion temporally associated with recent infections, pandemic H1N1 (2009) strain influenza vaccination or seasonal influenza vaccination.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective UK-wide epidemiological study using the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children aged 16 years or less meeting the Brighton Collaboration criteria for GBS or FS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  112 children with GBS (66 boys and 46 girls) and 3 boys with FS were identified in 2 years. All but one recovered sufficiently to go home. The annual UK incidence rate of GBS in patients less than 15 years old was 0.45/100 000, similar to other countries. There was evidence of infection in the 3 months preceding onset in 92/112 GBS and 3/3 FS cases. Of those living in England, 7 cases received pandemic A/H1N1 2009 influenza vaccination before GBS symptom onset (3/7 were within 6 months including 1 within 3 months); 2 children received 2010/2011 seasonal influenza vaccination within 6 months of GBS onset. The numbers vaccinated were not significantly greater than expected by chance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcome for childhood GBS and FS after 6 months was better than reported in adults. Most UK GBS and FS cases had infections in the preceding 3 months. When considering the children living in England, there was no significantly increased risk of GBS after pandemic A/H1N1 2009 influenza vaccination or 2010/2011 seasonal influenza vaccination.
authors.affiliation: PIND Research Group, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verity
authors.affiliation: PIND Research Group, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stellitano
authors.affiliation: PIND Research Group, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Winstone
authors.affiliation: General and Adolescent Paediatric Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College, London, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stowe
authors.affiliation: Statistics, Modelling and Economics Department, Public Health England, Colindale, London, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.affiliation: Immunisation, Hepatitis and Blood Safety Department, Public Health England, Colindale, London, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D019846:Miller Fisher Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D058873:Pandemics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines