Hospitalized children with 2009 influenza a (H1N1) infection in Shenzhen, China, November-December 2009.
OBJECTIVE
During the winter outbreak of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection in China, the number of confirmed cases and the fatal cases has grown rapidly. We describe the clinical characteristics of hospitalized children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection in Shenzhen, China, November-December 2009.


METHODS
Using a standardized form, we collected data on 148 hospitalized children. 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection was confirmed in nasopharyngeal swab specimens with the use of a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay.


RESULTS
Of the 148 hospitalized children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection, 81 (55%) were 5 years of age or older and 85% of the patients were previously healthy. The common presenting symptoms were fever (94%), cough (89%), runny nose (36.5%), vomiting (24%), sore throat (19.6%), wheezing (18%), abdominal pain (16%), mental status changes (9%), seizures (6%), diarrhea (6%), myalgia (6%), and chest pain (4%). Twenty-nine (20%) patients were admitted to an ICU, 10 (7%) patients required mechanical ventilation. The overall complication rate was 65.5%, they were pneumonia in 94 (64%), neurologic complications in 18 (12%), parapneumonic effusion in 12 (8%) and myocarditis in 7 (5%). One hundred seven (72%) patients received oseltamivir treatment, 34 (23%) received within 48 hr after the onset of symptoms. All patients received antibiotics before admission or on admission. One hundred forty-four (97%) patients were discharged; four (3%) previously healthy patients died, three died from severe encephalopathy, one died from secondary fungal meningitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Hospitalized children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection can have a wide range of presentation and clinical complications including neurologic complications. The severe cases and deaths concentrate in previously healthy older children.
Shenzhen Children Hospital, Shenzhen China. yuejiez@sina.com.
Yuejie
Y
Zheng
Yanxia
Y
He
Jikui
J
Deng
Zhiwei
Z
Lu
Jurong
J
Wei
Weiguo
W
Yang
Zhengzhen
Z
Tang
Boning
B
Li
Jaosheng
J
Zhang
Li
L
Wang
Hui
H
Zhao
Xiaonan
X
Li
Zhenzhu
Z
Yu
Ping
P
Song
Yijiao
Y
Ma
Yingfei
Y
Li
Chengrong
C
Li
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors