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Pandemic (H1N1) 2009: a clinical spectrum in the general paediatric population

Penelope Jane Larcombe1, Susan Evelyn Moloney, Peter Alan Schmidt

  • 1Gold Coast Hospital, Queensland, Australia. penny_larcombe@health.qld.gov.au

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|November 13, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 flu presented diversely in 43 Australian pediatric patients, with fever and cough being most common. Early consideration of H1N1 flu is vital for unwell children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Virology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic posed a significant global health threat.
  • Understanding the clinical spectrum of H1N1 in pediatric populations is crucial for effective management.
  • Australian children experienced H1N1 during the winter flu season, necessitating clinical review.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the clinical spectrum of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in hospitalized children.
  • To identify common presentations, diagnoses, and complications of H1N1 infection in pediatric patients.
  • To inform clinical suspicion and diagnosis of H1N1 flu in children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective case series analysis of 43 pediatric patients with confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
  • Data collected included clinical features, diagnoses, length of hospitalization, and complications.
  • Patients up to 17 years of age with RT-PCR-proven H1N1 infection were included.

Main Results:

  • Median age of patients was 6 years; 42% had pre-existing medical conditions.
  • Fever and cough were the most common symptoms, with 88% meeting flu-like illness criteria.
  • Common diagnoses included consolidation (46%), dehydration (30%), encephalopathy (7%), and diabetic ketoacidosis (5%).

Conclusions:

  • Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 exhibits a broad clinical presentation in children.
  • H1N1 flu should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any febrile or unwell child during a pandemic.
  • Prompt recognition and management are essential for pediatric H1N1 cases.

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