Socioeconomic costs of influenza complications in hospitalized children
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2025
Rapid Molecular Detection and Differentiation of Influenza Viruses A and B
Published on: January 30, 2017
August Wrotek1,2, Malgorzata Czajkowska1,2, Edyta Zawlocka1,2
1Department of Pediatrics, Medical Center of Postgraduate Education, Warsaw, Poland.
Insights
Influenza complications in children significantly increase hospitalization costs. Infants under two years old incur the highest expenses, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Health Economics
Background:
- Influenza is associated with numerous complications and substantial treatment costs.
- Estimating the socioeconomic impact of influenza hospitalizations is crucial for public health planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the socioeconomic significance of influenza hospitalizations in children.
- To analyze the direct and indirect costs associated with pediatric influenza cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 157 children hospitalized with influenza during the 2015-2016 season.
- Diagnosis confirmed via rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT) and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
- Assessment of direct costs (treatment) and indirect costs (work absence, lost income).
Main Results:
- Complications occurred in 57.3% of hospitalized children, primarily pneumonia and bronchitis.
- Patients with complications had longer hospital stays (8 vs. 6 days) and higher total costs (€1042 vs. €779).
- Children under 2 years old incurred higher costs compared to older age groups.
Conclusions:
- Influenza complications lead to increased direct and indirect costs for patients and the healthcare system.
- Infants under two years old represent a particularly high-cost group for influenza-related hospitalizations.
Introduction:
Influenza may be correlated with a high number of complications and generate high costs of treatment. The study aimed to estimate the socioeconomic significance of hospitalized influenza cases.
Material And Methods:
In the 2015-2016 flu season 157 children (median age 17 months) were hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics. The diagnosis was confirmed with the rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or both. The study assessed the direct and indirect costs of hospitalization, including the cost of treatment, work absence and the related income lost.
Results:
The frequency of complications among the children hospitalized was 57.3% (90/157), mainly due to pneumonia (31%) and bronchitis (23%). Patients with complications required longer hospital treatment (8 vs. 6 days, p < 0.01) and generated a higher total cost (€ 1042 vs. € 779, p < 0.01), including the patient's and systemic costs (€123 vs. € 94, p < 0.01 and € 916 vs. € 690, p < 0.01, respectively). Patients with complications had a 3.5-fold higher risk of generating higher (i.e., above median) costs. The difference in the costs between children aged under 2 and those over 2 years old was greater than the difference between children aged under 5 and those over 5 years old (€ 358 vs. € 253).
Conclusions:
Influenza complications generate higher systemic and patient's costs, both direct and indirect. The group of children for whom the difference is especially marked is under 2 years of age.
More Related Videos
05:21A Luciferase-fluorescent Reporter Influenza Virus for Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection
Published on: August 14, 2019
10:47Using Bioluminescent Imaging to Investigate Synergism Between Streptococcus pneumoniae and Influenza A Virus in Infant Mice
Published on: April 14, 2011
Related Concept Videos
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed....
01:28Pneumonia IV: Management
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:
01:24Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma
01:30Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...