Impact of influenza-like illness and effectiveness of influenza vaccination in oncohematological children who have completed cancer therapy.
In order to evaluate the impact of influenza-like illness and the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in children with oncohematological disease who have completed cancer therapy, 182 children with a diagnosis of oncohematological disease were divided into two subgroups on the basis of the length of time off therapy (<6 months or 6-24 months) and randomised 1:1 to receive influenza vaccination or not. The controls were 91 otherwise healthy children unvaccinated against influenza. The results show that the clinical and socioeconomic impact of influenza-like illnesses and the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in oncohematological children who have completed cancer therapy are related to the length of the off therapy period, and seem to be significantly greater in those who have been off therapy for less than 6 months in comparison with healthy controls. This suggests that the administration of influenza vaccination should be strongly recommended only among oncohematological children who have been off therapy for less than 6 months.
Esposito
Susanna
S
Department of Maternal and Pediatric Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regine Elena, Via Commenda 9, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Cecinati
Valerio
V
Scicchitano
Barbara
B
Delvecchio
Giovanni Carlo
GC
Santoro
Nicola
N
Amato
Doriana
D
Pelucchi
Claudio
C
Jankovic
Momcilo
M
De Mattia
Domenico
D
Principi
Nicola
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013997:Time Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines