Influenza in children: the German perspective

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Influenza A Virus Studies in a Mouse Model of Infection

Published on: September 7, 2017

Johannes Forster1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, St Josefs Hospital, Freiburg, Germany. johannes.forster@rkk-sjk.de

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|October 11, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Influenza poses a significant health risk to children, with approximately 120 annual hospitalizations per 100,000 children. Premature infants and those with chronic conditions face higher risks from this common respiratory illness.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Influenza is a significant pediatric illness, yet comprehensive epidemiologic data in children remain limited.
  • Understanding influenza's impact on children is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the epidemiology of influenza in infants and children using German data.
  • To determine influenza-associated hospitalization rates and risk factors in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of German epidemiologic data from three distinct studies: PRIDE, PID-ARI-net, and a sentinel surveillance study.
  • Inclusion of data from population-based, hospital-based, and sentinel surveillance sources for comprehensive analysis.

Main Results:

  • Influenza-associated hospitalization rates were approximately 120 per 100,000 children (aged 0-5 years).
  • Premature infants and children with cardiac or pulmonary conditions had increased hospitalization risks.
  • Outpatient consultation rates for influenza-related lower respiratory tract illness were 1.1 per 100 children annually.

Conclusions:

  • Influenza represents a substantial health hazard for all children, necessitating targeted prevention and management strategies.
  • Epidemiologic evidence confirms the significant burden of influenza on pediatric health.
Abstract

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