[Influenza-associated encephalopathy].

Acute encephalopathy is one of the most serious complications of pediatrics viral infections including influenza. It is characterized clinically by rapidly progressive brain damage following viral infection, and pathologically by brain edema in the absence of direct invasion of the virus and inflammatory cells. Recently, it has been classified into several categories according to the clinical characteristics and pathogenesis. In 2009, an outbreak of AH1N1 (swine) influenza was discovered in North America and quickly spread worldwide. During this pandemic, a number of patients with acute encephalopathy have been reported from all over the world. This article reviews the pathogenesis and classification of acute encephalopathy in general and the epidemiological, clinical and pathological features of pandemic flu-associated encephalopathy in comparison with those of seasonal flu-associated encephalopathy.