Children with asthma hospitalized with seasonal or pandemic influenza, 2003-2009

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Rapid Molecular Detection and Differentiation of Influenza Viruses A and B
05:38

Rapid Molecular Detection and Differentiation of Influenza Viruses A and B

Published on: January 30, 2017

Fatimah S Dawood1, Laurie Kamimoto, Tiffany A D'Mello

  • 1Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS A-32, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. fdawood@cdc.gov

Pediatrics
|June 8, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Asthmatic children hospitalized with influenza often have no other health issues. Pandemic H1N1 influenza led to more intensive care and pneumonia cases in these children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Asthma is a common chronic respiratory condition in children.
  • Influenza virus infections can lead to severe illness and complications in children, particularly those with underlying health conditions like asthma.
  • The 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza strain posed a significant public health concern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize asthmatic children hospitalized with influenza.
  • To compare the clinical courses and complications between seasonal influenza and 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza in asthmatic children.
  • To identify risk factors and outcomes associated with influenza in pediatric asthma patients.

Main Methods:

  • Surveillance of over 5.3 million children (aged ≤17 years) hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza from 2003-2009 and during the 2009 pandemic.
  • Identification of asthmatic children (aged 2-17 years) based on medical history or discharge codes for asthma exacerbation/status asthmaticus.
  • Retrospective data collection from medical records on medical history and clinical course.

Main Results:

  • Asthmatic children represented 32% of influenza hospitalizations during 2003-2009 and 44% during the 2009 pandemic.
  • A higher proportion of asthmatic children with 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza required intensive care (22% vs. 16%) and were diagnosed with pneumonia (46% vs. 40%) compared to seasonal influenza.
  • Asthmatic children with influenza A (seasonal or pandemic) experienced more asthma exacerbations than those with influenza B (51% vs. 29%).

Conclusions:

  • Most hospitalized asthmatic children with influenza do not have co-existing medical conditions.
  • Pneumonia and intensive care unit admission are substantial complications in asthmatic children hospitalized with influenza.
  • Influenza vaccination is crucial for preventing severe outcomes in asthmatic children.
Abstract

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