Amantadine penetration into cerebrospinal fluid of a child with influenza A encephalitis.

The use of amantadine has been advocated as treatment for influenza A encephalitis despite limited information regarding cerebrospinal fluid concentrations and the pathogenesis of encephalitis associated with influenza virus infections. We report a 2-year-old child with influenza A encephalitis treated with amantadine who achieved a potentially therapeutic concentration in cerebrospinal fluid. Despite this the child developed significant neurologic impairment.