title: Clinical manifestations of influenza A and B in children and adults at a tertiary hospital in Korea during the 2011-2012 season.
abstract: This study aims to evaluate and compare the epidemiological patterns and clinical courses of influenza A and B among children and adults. For this purpose, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 809 children and 271 adolescents/adults with laboratory-confirmed influenza between October 2011 and May 2012 at a tertiary-care hospital. Children with influenza B presented with high fever (body temperature >39℃), sputum production, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, and myalgia more frequently than those with influenza A. Children with influenza B also showed longer intervals from symptom onset to the initiation of antivirals and higher rates of antibiotic prescription and hospitalization than those with influenza A. Adults aged 20-59 years accounted for approximately 16% and 20% of patients with influenza A and B, respectively. Although clinical manifestations and outcomes were similar between adult patients with influenza A and those with influenza B, influenza B may cause substantial disease burden among not only children but also socially active adults aged 20-59 years.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Kyung-Wook
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Hee Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Joon Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Ji Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.forename: Tae Un
authors.initials: TU
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Woo Joo
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult