Benign acute childhood myositis

We present a case of a child with acute benign myositis (ABM) associated with influenzae virus, which recurs on 3 occasions during two consecutive influenza seasons. In the first episode, different differential diagnoses were proposed, which led to the referral hospital. Following episodes were more easily recognized, and only tests necessary for their diagnosis were requested, such as the typical elevation of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and microbiological studies to confirm etiology. Course was benign, self-limited with only symptomatic treatment. Primary care pediatricians have an important role in the recognition of this entity during seasonal influenza, since the influenzae virus is the cause most frequently related to ABM, avoiding unnecessary testing. We propose to evaluate influenza vaccination in patients suffering from an episode of ABM in order to avoid its recurrence, given the possible susceptibility of some children.