Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 22, 2026

Using Bioluminescent Imaging to Investigate Synergism Between Streptococcus pneumoniae and Influenza A Virus in Infant Mice
10:47

Using Bioluminescent Imaging to Investigate Synergism Between Streptococcus pneumoniae and Influenza A Virus in Infant Mice

Published on: April 14, 2011

The impact of influenza in children

Flor M Munoz1

  • 1Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Rm 221-D, MC-BCM-280, Houston, TX 77030, USA. florm@bcm.tmc.edu

Seminars in Pediatric Infectious Diseases
|July 19, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Influenza virus infections are most common in young children due to limited immunity. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for children over 6 months and close contacts to prevent serious illness and complications.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Immunology
  • Public health

Background:

  • Young children, especially infants, face the highest risk of influenza virus infection due to lack of prior immunity and exposure.
  • Previously healthy children in their first year of life are at substantial risk for serious influenza disease, a risk amplified by underlying chronic conditions.
  • Influenza epidemics disproportionately affect infants, young children, and those with chronic conditions, leading to high rates of medical visits and hospitalizations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the significant risks of influenza virus infection in children, particularly young children and those with chronic medical conditions.
  • To emphasize the importance of annual influenza vaccination for children and their close contacts to prevent infection and complications.
  • To discuss the role of maternal immunization in protecting infants younger than 6 months.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature and epidemiological data on influenza virus infection in pediatric populations.
  • Analysis of risk factors associated with severe influenza outcomes in children.
  • Evaluation of current vaccination recommendations for children and pregnant women.

Main Results:

  • Young children exhibit the highest influenza infection rates.
  • Influenza in infants and children with chronic conditions leads to severe disease, increased hospitalizations, and complications like secondary bacterial infections.
  • Annual influenza vaccination is effective in preventing disease and complications in children over 6 months and their contacts.

Conclusions:

  • Annual influenza immunization is crucial for children over 6 months of age, especially those with underlying medical conditions.
  • Maternal immunization during pregnancy offers protection to infants younger than 6 months.
  • Widespread vaccination of children and their close contacts significantly reduces influenza incidence and its severe consequences in the pediatric population.

More Related Videos

A Luciferase-fluorescent Reporter Influenza Virus for Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection05:21

A Luciferase-fluorescent Reporter Influenza Virus for Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection

Published on: August 14, 2019

Modeling Dysplastic and Functional Lung Alveolar Repair after Influenza Infection07:45

Modeling Dysplastic and Functional Lung Alveolar Repair after Influenza Infection

Published on: September 19, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
Acute Pharyngitis01:30

Acute Pharyngitis

Introduction
Acute pharyngitis is the inflammation of the back of the throat (pharynx), commonly resulting in a sore throat. It is a frequently encountered condition that prompts individuals to seek medical advice.
Classification
Acute pharyngitis can be categorized based on its underlying cause:
Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence01:28

Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence

Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...
Influenza01:27

Influenza

Influenza is an acute, highly communicable viral disease that affects the respiratory tract and is responsible for seasonal epidemics worldwide. Influenza A is the most prevalent type associated with widespread outbreaks and is subtyped based on two surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), as in H1N1. These glycoproteins are essential for viral infectivity, transmission, and immune recognition. Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets and contaminated...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Inhibitors Of Virion Release01:25

Inhibitors Of Virion Release

Viral replication and dissemination rely on efficient mechanisms for host cell entry, genome replication, assembly, and release. Influenza viruses, such as types A and B, are negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses with a segmented genome, that depend on two critical surface glycoproteins to carry out these processes: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA initiates infection by binding to sialic acid residues on the surface of host epithelial cells, facilitating receptor-mediated...