[Clinical characteristics and management of children hospitalized for influenza in four epidemic seasons (2002-2006)].
BACKGROUND
Influenza is frequent during childhood, affecting approximately 30-40 % of children.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the most frequent causes of hospitalization in children admitted to hospital for influenza, as well as the main symptoms and clinical diagnoses at discharge, and to relate these factors with the type of influenza virus and patients' age. A further aim was to evaluate the use of the diagnostic and therapeutic methods.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective descriptive study through a review of the medical records of children admitted to the Miguel Servet Children's Hospital in Zaragoza (Spain) for influenza in four epidemic seasons (2002-2006).


RESULTS
A total of 178 influenza cases were found, 132 due to influenza A and 46 due to influenza B. Hospital admission was mainly due to fever without focus, especially in infants aged less than 6 months, followed by convulsions and shortness of breath. The main symptoms were fever, cough, rhinitis, and vomiting. The latter was especially frequent in children older than 3 years and in patients with influenza B virus. The main discharge diagnoses were upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngitis-tonsillitis, and otitis. Diagnosis of bronchitis was more frequent in children aged less than 2 years old. Chest X-ray was performed in 80% of the patients and lung consolidation was found in 10.5%. Antibiotic therapy was administered in 59% of the patients, mainly amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.


CONCLUSIONS
The causes of admission for influenza and clinical presentation of this infection vary widely, sometimes depending on age and the type of influenza virus.
Ros Aranal
I
I
Servicios de Pediatría (Sección de Infecciosos), Hospital Infantil Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España. iros@salud.aragon.es
Navarra Vicente
B
B
Lavilla Fernández
M J
MJ
De Juan Martín
F
F
Bouthelier Moreno
M
M
Omeñaca Teres
M
M
Ciria Calavia
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons