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Influenza vaccination in asthmatic children: effects on quality of life and symptoms

H J Bueving1, J C van der Wouden, H Raat

  • 1Dept of General Practice, room Ff305, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box, 1738, The Netherlands. j.vanderwouden@erasmusmc.nl

The European Respiratory Journal
|December 2, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Influenza vaccination moderately improved quality of life for children with asthma during influenza-positive illness weeks. However, it did not significantly impact overall respiratory symptoms or quality of life across entire seasons.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Immunology
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Asthma affects millions of children globally, increasing their susceptibility to respiratory infections.
  • Influenza poses a significant risk to children with asthma, potentially exacerbating their condition.
  • The impact of influenza vaccination on the quality of life and clinical outcomes in pediatric asthma remains an area of interest.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of influenza vaccination on quality of life, symptomatology, and spirometry in children with asthma.
  • To determine if influenza vaccination provides measurable benefits beyond symptom management in pediatric asthma patients.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted involving 696 children aged 6-18 years with asthma.
  • Participants received either an influenza vaccine or a placebo for one influenza season.
  • Data on symptoms, quality of life, and spirometry were collected through diaries, nurse visits, pharyngeal swabs, and standardized assessments.

Main Results:

  • Influenza vaccination demonstrated a moderately beneficial effect on health-related quality of life specifically during weeks with influenza-positive swabs.
  • No significant differences were observed in respiratory symptoms recorded in diaries between vaccinated and placebo groups during influenza-positive weeks.
  • Overall quality of life and respiratory symptoms throughout the entire seasons showed no significant improvement attributable to vaccination.

Conclusions:

  • Influenza vaccination offers a moderate benefit to the quality of life in children with asthma during confirmed influenza infections.
  • The study suggests that while vaccination may improve quality of life during acute flu episodes, its broader impact on long-term asthma control and symptoms requires further investigation.

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