Clinical characteristics of pediatric hospitalizations associated with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in Northern Bavaria, Germany.
BACKGROUND
The 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) (PIA) virus infected large parts of the pediatric population with a wide clinical spectrum and an initially unknown complication rate. The aims of our study were to define clinical characteristics and outcome of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009-associated hospitalizations (PIAH) in children <18 years of age. All hospitalized cases of children <18 years of age with laboratory-confirmed pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 in the region of Wuerzburg (Northern Bavaria, Germany) between July 2009 and March 2010 were identified. For these children a medical chart review was performed to determine their clinical characteristics and complications.


RESULTS
Between July 2009 and March 2010, 94 PIAH (62% males) occurred in children <18 years of age, with a median age of 7 years (IQR: 3-12 years). Underlying diseases and predisposing factors were documented in 40 (43%) children; obesity (n = 12, 30%), asthma (n = 10, 25%) and neurologic disorders (n = 8, 20%) were most frequently reported. Sixteen (17%) children received oxygen supplementation; three (3%) children required mechanical ventilation. Six (6%) children were admitted to an intensive care unit, four of them with underlying chronic diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
Most PIAH demonstrated a benign course of disease. However, six children (6%) needed treatment at an intensive care unit for severe complications.
University Children's Hospital, Pediatric Infectiology and Immunology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str, 2, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
Anna
A
Wieching
Jasmin
J
Benser
Christina
C
Kohlhauser-Vollmuth
Benedikt
B
Weissbrich
Andrea
A
Streng
Johannes G
JG
Liese
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D008297:Male; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D058873:Pandemics; D011379:Prognosis; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines