Brainstem folding in an influenza child with Dandy-Walker variant

BACKGROUND: Influenza in children is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Nervous system diseases are a factor relating to increased mortality rate. However, reports of how these underlying diseases contribute to the death of children with influenza are rare. CASE SUMMARY: A 4-year-old-girl developed type A influenza-related encephalopathy (IAE) with seizures, acute disorder of consciousness, and intracranial hypertension (cerebrospinal fluid pressure: 250 mmH(2)O), and the Dandy-Walker variant was found by her first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) when admission. Three days later, she suddenly presented anisocoria, acute pulmonary edema, and coma, and the later MRI found that she had compressed brainstem, oblongata “Z-like folding”, and swelling bilateral basal ganglia. After admission, the patient were tested for routine and special biomarkers and underwent neuroimaging and neuroelectrophysiology examinations as well as Oseltamivir and intravenous immunogloblin treatments. When predicting that unstable intracranial structures detected by MRI might have disastrous consequences in the progression of IAE, she was transferred into the pediatric intensive care unit and underwent continuous assessment of clinical condition while she did not have instability of basic vital signs; at the same time, her parents were fully informed about the risk and prognosis. Although she was ultimately dead from brain stem failure, the parents expressed understanding and did not trigger a doctor-patient conflict. CONCLUSION: In case of finding an unstable intracranial structure, intensive care should be given to IAE patient and their clinical condition should be monitored continuously.