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Burden of influenza during the first year of life
Janna-Maija Mattila1, Emilia Thomas1, Pasi Lehtinen1
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
Insights
Influenza poses a significant health burden on young children, with a high incidence in outpatient settings. Further prevention strategies are crucial, especially for infants under six months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Virology
- Public Health
Background:
- Influenza viruses cause substantial illness in children annually.
- Young children face the highest risk of influenza-related hospitalizations.
- Limited data exist on influenza burden in young outpatient children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and burden of influenza in infants managed as outpatients.
- To assess complications and hospitalizations associated with pediatric influenza.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study followed 431 infants for 10 months.
- Parents maintained daily symptom diaries.
- Nasopharyngeal swabs confirmed influenza diagnoses via laboratory testing.
Main Results:
- 55 influenza episodes occurred in 408 children, yielding an annual incidence of 135/1000.
- Acute otitis media complicated 46% of influenza cases.
- One child was hospitalized for febrile convulsions; vaccine effectiveness was 48%.
Conclusions:
- Influenza places a heavy burden on infants in outpatient care.
- Effective prevention strategies are needed for infants, particularly those under six months.
- Reducing influenza burden in this vulnerable group requires targeted interventions.
Background:
Every year, influenza viruses infect millions of children and cause an enormous burden of disease. Young children are at the highest risk for influenza-attributable hospitalizations. Nevertheless, most young children are treated as outpatients, and limited data are available on the burden of influenza in these children.
Methods:
We carried out a prospective cohort study and followed 431 infants born in June-August 2017 for 10 months from September 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018. The parents filled out daily symptom diaries and were instructed to bring their child for clinical examination at our study clinic each time the child had fever or any signs or symptoms of respiratory tract infection. During each visit, we obtained nasopharyngeal swab specimens for determination of the viral etiology of the illness.
Results:
A total of 55 episodes of laboratory-confirmed influenza were diagnosed among the 408 actively participating children, which corresponds to an annual incidence rate of 135/1000 children (95% Cl, 102-175). Excluding five children with double viral infection, acute otitis media developed as a complication of influenza in 23 (46%) children. One (2%) child with influenza was hospitalized because of febrile convulsion. The effectiveness of influenza vaccination was 48% (95% CI, -29%-80%).
Conclusions:
The burden of influenza during the first year of life is heavy in the outpatient setting where most infants with influenza are managed. Effective strategies for the prevention of influenza particularly in infants under 6 months of age are needed to diminish the burden of disease in this age group.
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