[Against influenza in children, which actions?]

Each year, at any age, children are at risk of influenza illness during the epidemics. Children, especially those at school (attack rate close to 30%), have a major role in viral dissemination. Most of influenza illnesses occur in healthy children. Manifestations are typical, as in adults, in children over 5 years of age and less specific in younger children explaining misdiagnosis and underestimation in the youngest. Respiratory complications in outpatients include acute otitis media (close to 30% in children less than 3 years of age) and pulmonary disease (5 up to 10%). High fever 240 degrees C is frequent. Febrile convulsions occur in about 20% of hospitalised children aged 6 month to 5 years. Other complications (encephalitis, myositis, myocarditis, etc.) are reported. Hospitalisation rate is a severity index. In children less than 5 years of age, it is as high as 500/100,000 when risk factors exist and 100/100,000 when absent. Influenza, which is a respiratory virus, is the only one for which both a vaccine and specific treatment (anti-neuraminidases) exist. They are detailed.