title: [Against influenza in children, which actions?].
abstract: Each year, at any age, children are at risk of influenza illness during the epidemics. Children, especially those at school (attack rate close to 30%), have a major role in viral dissemination. Most of influenza illnesses occur in healthy children. Manifestations are typical, as in adults, in children over 5 years of age and less specific in younger children explaining misdiagnosis and underestimation in the youngest. Respiratory complications in outpatients include acute otitis media (close to 30% in children less than 3 years of age) and pulmonary disease (5 up to 10%). High fever 240 degrees C is frequent. Febrile convulsions occur in about 20% of hospitalised children aged 6 month to 5 years. Other complications (encephalitis, myositis, myocarditis, etc.) are reported. Hospitalisation rate is a severity index. In children less than 5 years of age, it is as high as 500/100,000 when risk factors exist and 100/100,000 when absent. Influenza, which is a respiratory virus, is the only one for which both a vaccine and specific treatment (anti-neuraminidases) exist. They are detailed.
authors.affiliation: c.weilolivier@lmr.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weil-Olivier
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines