Review article

Influenza-Associated Complications in Children

Goran Tešović ; Klinika za infektivne bolesti ''Dr. Fran Mihaljević''
Lorna Stemberger ; Klinika za infektivne bolesti ''Dr. Fran Mihaljević''

Abstract

Pandemic influenza, as well as seasonal, is a mild, self-limiting disease in the majority of cases, especially among previously healthy children. Complications of influenza are more commonly seen in children with risk factors, such as asthma, prematurity, failure to thrive, immunodeficiency or other chronic conditions. The most common respiratory complication is acute otitis media (AOM), and in a notable number of cases primary viral and secondary bacterial pneumonia. Approximately 10% of children hospitalized with influenza have at least one of the neurological complications, such as febrile seizures, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), cerebellitis, transverse myelitis, influenza-associated encephalitis-encephalopathy (IAEE), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), etc. Other influenza complications include myositis that occurs more frequently in children than in adults and usually has a mild course, although severe rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure has also been described. Our results: Comparing influenza characteristics in children and adolescents hospitalized at the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb during the period of seasonal and pandemic influenza, we have noticed that seasonal influenza occurs on an average in young children with underlying chronic diseases. A higher number of respiratory complications has been observed among children infected with pandemic influenza, and these children had a significantly higher number of viral and secondary (bacterial) pneumonias with the need for mechanical respiratory support, as well as a higher percentage of encephalopathy. No statistically significant difference has been observed in the mortality rate which was low (0.25% vs. 0.9%) in both investigated groups.

Keywords

influenza; pandemic; seasonal; complications; children

Hrčak ID:

77353

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/77353

Publication date:

3.1.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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