Mass. girl recovering from rare, serious illness linked to flu
Boston.com••health
Key Points:
- A 4-year-old girl in Massachusetts developed acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE), a rare but severe flu complication that causes rapid brain swelling and can lead to brain damage or death.
- ANE symptoms often start with common flu signs but can quickly worsen to seizures, loss of consciousness, and breathing difficulties; the condition has a mortality rate of about 27 percent.
- The girl's age may have contributed to her survival and recovery, though some brain damage occurred; her mother shared their story to raise awareness about this little-known flu complication.
- Flu cases in Massachusetts are surging, with a significant increase in hospitalizations and flu-related deaths, including among young children under age 2.
- Health officials urge vaccination
