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Differences in the Epidemiology of Childhood Infections with Avian Influenza A H7N9 and H5N1 Viruses

Jianping Sha1, Wei Dong2, Shelan Liu3

  • 1Department of Endocrinology, The 421 Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Guangzhou, China.

Plos One
|October 4, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Avian influenza A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) viruses show distinct childhood infection patterns. H7N9 cases were milder with greater transmission, while H5N1 infections were more severe and fatal in children.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Avian influenza viruses, including A(H5N1) and A(H7N9), pose significant public health threats.
  • Understanding the differences in childhood infections is crucial for effective disease control and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the epidemiological characteristics of childhood infections caused by avian influenza A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) viruses.
  • To analyze differences in disease severity, transmission patterns, and fatality rates between H5N1 and H7N9 infections in children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective comparative analysis of epidemiological data from 244 H5N1 and 41 H7N9 childhood cases (<15 years old).
  • Inclusion of analysis on childhood cluster cases for both viral strains.
  • Statistical comparison of age, proportion of infections, clustered cases, secondary cases, disease status (mild, severe, fatal), and fatality rates.

Main Results:

  • H5N1 infections were more common in children than H7N9 (31.1% vs. 6.4%).
  • H5N1 cases showed significantly higher proportions of clustered (46.7% vs. 23.6%) and secondary infections (46.4% vs. 33.3%).
  • H7N9 infections were predominantly mild (79.49%), whereas H5N1 infections had a high fatality rate (75.00% severe/fatal cases).

Conclusions:

  • Avian influenza A(H7N9) demonstrates lower severity and greater transmission potential in childhood cases compared to A(H5N1).
  • H5N1 infections in children are associated with significantly higher rates of severe illness and mortality.
  • Findings highlight distinct clinical and epidemiological profiles of H5N1 and H7N9 in pediatric populations, informing public health responses.

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