Impact of influenza virus infection as a cause of pediatric hospitalization.
From winter 1989 to spring 1990, a severe epidemic caused by influenza A (H3N2) and B viruses developed in Japan. During the epidemic (December 1989 to February 1990), 244 children were admitted to the pediatric ward of Nippon Kokan Hospital: 53 (21.7%) were hospitalized with influenza virus infection, 22 (9.0%) with rotavirus gastroenteritis, and 17 (7.0%) with respiratory syncytial virus infection. Among those with influenza, 24 had type A and 29 had type B. Most were young healthy children without underlying illnesses (mean age, 4.8 +/- 3.4 years). The impact of the influenza epidemic on pediatric hospitalization is probably much greater than generally thought when a severe epidemic occurs.
Sugaya
N
N
Department of Pediatrics, Nippon Kokan Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan.
Nerome
K
K
Ishida
M
M
Nerome
R
R
Nagae
M
M
Takeuchi
Y
Y
Osano
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003440:Croup / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006745:Hospital Bed Capacity, 300 to 499; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology