title: 2009 Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) deaths among children--United States, 2009-2010.
abstract: The 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) (pH1N1) virus emerged in the United States in April 2009 (1) and has since caused significant morbidity and mortality worldwide (2-6). We compared pandemic influenza A (H1N1) (pH1N1)-associated deaths occurring from 15 April 2009 through 23 January 2010 with seasonal influenza-associated deaths occurring from 1 October 2007 through 14 April 2009, a period during which data collected were most comparable. Among 317 children who died of pH1N1-associated illness, 301 (95%) had a reported medical history. Of those 301, 205 (68%) had a medical condition associated with an increased risk of severe illness from influenza. Children who died of pH1N1-associated illness had a higher median age (9.4 vs 6.2 years; P<.01) and longer time from onset of symptoms to death (7 vs 5 days, P<.01) compared with children who died of seasonal influenza-associated illness. The majority of pediatric deaths from pH1N1 were in older children with high-risk medical conditions. Vaccination continues to be critical for all children, especially those at increased risk of influenza-related complications.
authors.affiliation: Epidemic Intelligence Service, Office of Workforce and Career Development assigned to Influenza Division, Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. cyv5@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Chad M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Lenee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blanton
authors.forename: Rosaline
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dhara
authors.forename: Lynnette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brammer
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Finelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D058873:Pandemics; D016019:Survival Analysis