Highlighting the importance of vaccinating and protecting children against influenza, a team of scientists from CDC say children with neurological disorders are more prone to develop the flu and die.
The warning is based on the findings of a study that examined the influenza related complications and death among children during the 2009 H1N1epidemic. For the study, investigators from CDC used data from state and local health departments.
About 336 children, below 18 died from 2009 H1N1 flu associated complications. Of the total number of children, 146 (64 percent) were suffering from one of the neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy, intellectual disability or epilepsy. Only 21 were found to have taken seasonal influenza vaccine and only three percent received full vaccination for H1N1.
Children with neurological disorders, included in the analysis, were found to be more affected with complications from two diseases- influenza-associated pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
"We've known for some time that certain neurological conditions can put children at high risk for serious complications from influenza," Dr. Lyn Finelli, chief of the surveillance and outbreak response team in CDC's Influenza Division, said in a statement. "However, the high percentage of pediatric deaths associated with neurological disorders that occurred during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic was a somber reminder of the harm that flu can cause to children with neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders."
Some other conditions that increased the influenza complications among children with neurological condition were pulmonary disorder, metabolic disorder, heart disease or a chromosomal abnormality.
"Flu is particularly dangerous for people who may have trouble with muscle function, lung function or difficulty coughing, swallowing or clearing fluids from their airways," said study co-author and pediatrician Dr. Georgina Peacock. "These problems are sometimes experienced by children with neurologic disorders."
According to CDC, it's mandatory for children aged six months and above to go for an annual influenza vaccination to avoid the risk.
Results of the study have been published in the journal Pediatrics.
