Influenza-associated benign acute childhood myositis: A case series

Abstract

Benign acute childhood myositis is an uncommon pediatric complication, frequently associated with influenza, that often causes significant parental anxiety due to the acute onset of gait abnormalities. This article presents a case series of three pediatric patients, aged 7–13 years old, treated at the Golden Jubilee Medical Center between November 2025 and March 2026, all of whom exhibited a similar clinical course starting with prodromal respiratory symptoms followed by acute bilateral calf pain and difficulty with weight-bearing. Laboratory investigations confirmed Influenza A (1 case) and Influenza B (2 cases), with significant elevations in serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels (831, 740, and 3,033 U/L, respectively) and AST, while neurological examinations remained unremarkable. Following treatment with intravenous fluids and oseltamivir, all patients achieved clinical recovery within 4 days without severe complications such as acute kidney injury, highlighting that clinical awareness is essential for rapid differential diagnosis, avoiding unnecessary investigations, and effectively alleviating parental concerns.