title: Impact of influenza-like illness and effectiveness of influenza vaccination in oncohematological children who have completed cancer therapy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Pediatric Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regine Elena, Via Commenda 9, 20122 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cecinati
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scicchitano
authors.forename: Giovanni Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Delvecchio
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: Doriana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pelucchi
authors.forename: Momcilo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jankovic
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Mattia
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Principi
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines