title: Impact of influenza infection on children's hospital admissions during two seasons in Athens, Greece.
abstract: A prospective epidemiologic surveillance of hospitalizations associated with influenza was conducted in order to calculate population-based hospitalization rates. Eligible children were 6 months to 13 years of age and were admitted to one of the two large children's hospitals in the Athens area during two influenza seasons. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested for influenza by a polymerase reaction assay. Influenza accounted for 9.9-11.8% of all admissions during the influenza season and the overall annual rate of hospitalizations was 13.6-16.8 cases per 10,000 children being highest for children under 5 years of age (26-31.2/10,000 children). Febrile seizures and acute otitis media were the two most common complications associated with influenza and antibiotics were administered to 61% of flu positive patients. Influenza is associated with high hospitalization rates among young children and these may be substantially reduced with the introduction of routine immunization.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Pediatrics of the University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sakkou
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stripeli
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Critselis
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mavrikou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drossatou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Constantopoulos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kafetzis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsolia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012640:Seizures / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral