title: [Avian influenza in children].
abstract: The emerging A (H5N1) influenza virus is a clear pandemic threat. This avian virus is responsible for the largest epizootic event described so far. To date, 423 humans have been infected. In humans, this virus is responsible for a rapidly developing pneumonia, with an acute respiratory failure leading to death in 60% of the infected cases. The multi-organ failure seems to result from the cytokine storm. A (H5N1) infections are mainly reported in children and young adults. Different hypotheses have been proposed to explain this specific feature, including the lack of control of cytokine release during infection, or the presence of alternative cellular receptors. The specific susceptibility of children is more likely to be related with exposure to infected birds than to specific immune or physiological factors. The proper and efficient management of A (H5N1) infection is possible nowadays. Today, the pandemic threat is real and may be imminent because of the circulation of new A (H1N1). However, an active surveillance of A (H5N1) virus remains very important to monitor the genetic evolution of this changing and virulent virus.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Virologie, Institut de Microbiologie, Centre de Biologie et de Pathologie EST, Groupement Hospitalier Est, 59 boulevard Pinel, 69677 Bron cedex, France. maude.bouscambert-duchamp@chu-lyon.fr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouscambert-Duchamp
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lina
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morfin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D014774:Virulence