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Published on: September 7, 2017
[Child hospital admissions associated with influenza virus infection in 6 Spanish cities (2014-2016)]
Javier Arístegui Fernández1, Eduardo González Pérez-Yarza2, María José Mellado Peña3
1Sección de Infectología Pediátrica, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España; Departamento de Pediatría, Universidad del País Vasco, UPV/EHU, Bilbao, Vizcaya, España.
Insights
Influenza significantly impacts Spanish children, causing hospitalizations, especially in infants and those with underlying conditions. Vaccination remains crucial for preventing severe childhood influenza cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Limited studies exist on influenza's impact on Spanish children.
- This research addresses hospital admission rates, clinical variables, comorbidities, and vaccination status in hospitalized children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the incidence and characteristics of community-acquired influenza hospitalizations in children under 15 in Spain.
- To identify risk factors and outcomes associated with severe influenza in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective observational study analyzed medical records of 907 children hospitalized with confirmed influenza across 10 Spanish hospitals over two flu seasons (2014-2016).
- Data included patient demographics, underlying conditions, vaccination status, and clinical outcomes like Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) admission.
Main Results:
- An average annual hospitalization incidence rate of 0.51 cases per 1,000 children was estimated.
- Nearly half of hospitalized children (45%) had underlying risk factors, increasing with age (26% in <6 months to 74% in >10 years).
- Most children (74%) were unvaccinated, and 10% required PICU admission, primarily for acute respiratory failure.
Conclusions:
- Influenza remains a significant cause of hospitalization in the Spanish pediatric population.
- Infants under 6 months and children with comorbidities represent the majority of severe cases.
- Adherence to current vaccination guidelines could prevent many severe childhood influenza cases.
Introduction:
There are only a limited number of studies on the impact of influenza in the Spanish child population. The present work intends to increase this knowledge by studying some key aspects, such as the incidence of hospital admissions, clinic variables, comorbidities, and the vaccination status in the hospitalised children.
Methods:
A retrospective, observational study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of children under 15 years and hospitalised due to community acquired influenza confirmed microbiologically, during 2́flu seasons (2014-2015 and 2015-2016). The study was carried out in 10 hospitals of 6cities, which represent approximately 12% of the Spanish child population.
Results:
A total of 907 children were admitted to hospital with main diagnosis of influenza infection (447 <2 years), estimating an average annual rate of hospitalisation incidence of 0.51 cases / 1,000 children (95% CI; 0.48-0.55). Just under half (45%) of the cases had an underlying disease considered a risk factor for severe influenza, and most (74%) had not been vaccinated. The percentage of children with underlying diseases increased with age, from 26% in children <6 months to 74% in children >10 years. Admission to the PICU was required in 10% (92) of the cases, mainly due to acute respiratory failure.
Conclusion:
Influenza continues to be an important cause of hospitalisation in the Spanish child population. Children <6 months of age and children with underlying diseases make up the majority (> 50%) of the cases. Many of the severe forms of childhood influenza that occur today could be avoided if current vaccination guidelines were met.
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