Influenzavirus A2 Infections Presenting with Febrile Convulsions and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Young Children

Abstract

We present the clinical features of Influenzavirus A2 infection in 75 young children admitted to a children's hospital. The most common presenting features were febrile convulsions, vomiting, coughing, diarrhea, and anorexia. At any age, the illness may present with respira tory tract symptoms and signs but in young babies gastrointestinal symp toms are often the presenting complaint. Children aged one to three years often present with febrile convulsions. Only in older children does the adult pattern begin to emerge. Evidence is put forward to suggest that encephalitis in association with influenza can be due to direct in vasion of the central nervous system by the virus.