Prevalence, Clinical Presentations and Complications among Hospitalized Children with Influenza Pneumonia

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 61; no. 6; pp. 446 - 449
• Main Authors: Samransamruajkit, Rujipat, Hiranrat, Titikul, Chieochansin, Thaweesak, Sritippayawan, Suchada, Deerojanawong, Jitladda, Prapphal, Nuanchan, Poovorawan, Yong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases 28-11-2008
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Community-Acquired Infections - complications; Community-Acquired Infections - epidemiology; Community-Acquired Infections - virology; Female; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Infant; Influenza, Human - complications; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Influenza, Human - physiopathology; Influenza, Human - virology; Male; Pneumonia, Viral - complications; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - physiopathology; Pneumonia, Viral - virology; Prevalence; Thailand - epidemiology; Virus Diseases - complications; Virus Diseases - epidemiology; Virus Diseases - physiopathology; Virus Diseases - virology; Viruses - classification; Viruses - isolation & purification; Thailand
• ISSN: 1344-6304; 1884-2836
• DOI: 10.7883/yoken.JJID.2008.446

Viral respiratory tract infections are a major cause of hospitalization in children. Influenza is common but often not laboratory proven. We report a prospective study of children admitted with a clinical diagnosis of pneumonia. Infants and children (ages 1 month - 15 years) who were hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia were enrolled in the study. Their nasopharyngeal aspirated samples were analyzed for common respiratory viruses, including influenza virus, by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or PCR. Out of 257 patients, we identified 127 (49.4%) cases with respiratory viruses, and influenza was found in 32 of these cases (12.5%). Other common respiratory viruses included respiratory syncytial virus in 42 (16.3%), human metapneumovirus in 24 (9.3%), adenovirus in 17 (6.6%) and parainfluenza virus in 12 (4.7%). The median age of the influenza group was 2 years and 3 months, and 27 (84%) of children in this group were under the age of 5. Asthma was the most common co-morbidity (4/32, 12.5%). Common clinical presentations were fever and cough (100%) with crepitations (90%). The median length of hospitalization was 6 days. Three patients developed respiratory failure, with one mortality (3.1%). One child developed infection-associated hemophagocytic syndrome. Our study demonstrated that young children had a high risk of hospitalization due to influenza pneumonia, which contributed to a significant morbidity.