An Unusual Cause of Limping in Childhood: Lessons from H1N1 Influenza Case Series

Identification of the etiology of limping and gait disturbances in children necessitates accurate physical examination and history taking. Although serious conditions such as septic arthritis and Guillain-Barre syndrome are usually prioritized in the differential diagnosis of limping, benign disorders such as benign acute childhood myositis (BACM) should not be discarded. During the recent H1N1 influenza pandemic in the fall and winter of 2015 - 2016 in Hamadan, Iran, three school children presented to our clinic with limping and abnormal gait. Precise history taking, in addition to accurate physical examination and simple laboratory tests, confirmed the diagnosis of myositis. The patients were discharged soon after complete recovery. Based on the findings, in case a child suffers from calf pain or gait disturbances during influenza outbreak, the possibility of BACM should be considered before performing laboratory tests, radiological examinations, or other investigations.