Brainstem encephalitis following influenza vaccination: Favorable response to steroid treatment

[ema-adama]

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a well-known but rare complication of vaccination. For most vaccines, incidence rates of ADEM are about 0.1–0.2 per 100,000 vaccinated individuals and post-vaccination ADEM makes up less than 5% of all ADEM cases. Influenza vaccination has only recently been associated with ADEM and hence no incidence estimates have been reported. Following immunosuppressive treatment, around 70–90% of post-vaccination ADEM cases recover completely or with minor deficits within a time period of 1–6 month

In conclusion, our case represents a rare neurological presentation possibly associated with influenza vaccination and implies that post-vaccination encephalitis might present with a wide range of clinical pictures.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...3f750b6a33daa2

[Marnica]

very interesting...thanks for posting this

[ema-adama]

Yeah, I know the discussion is about how to treat ADEM, but I found it interesting just how well known ADEM is known in it's association with vaccines. And that you are certainly NOT told about this risk, regardless of how small it is. As a parent/consumer you should be informed of these risks and given the freedom to make the decision you feel best suits your family. But we all know just how likely that is to happen.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by ema-adama

Yeah, I know the discussion is about how to treat ADEM, but I found it interesting just how well known ADEM is known in it's association with vaccines. And that you are certainly NOT told about this risk, regardless of how small it is. As a parent/consumer you should be informed of these risks and given the freedom to make the decision you feel best suits your family. But we all know just how likely that is to happen.

it must fall under the "serious reactions are 1 in a million" speech some parents get

[ema-adama]

Yup, but then it needs to be told that it is one in a million for each vaccine (not each series, each vaccine itself)- not one in a million children.... but that's getting a bit too specific. With the vaccine schedule increasing exponensially, you don't want each one carrying a one in a million risk... Much better to leave the impression that one out of 1 million children have serious reactions. That is a much easier number to handle.