title: [A prospective study to assess the burden of influenza-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits among children in Bilbao, Spain (2010-2011)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was undertaken to estimate the burden of morbidity associated with laboratory-confirmed influenza in children below 15 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children presenting with acute respiratory infection and/or isolated fever at the Basurto University Hospital, Bilbao, Spain between November 2010 and May 2011 were included in this study (NCT01592799). Two nasopharyngeal secretion samples were taken from each; one for a rapid influenza diagnostic test in the emergency department, and the second for laboratory analysis using real-time polymerase chain reaction and viral culture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 501 children were recruited, of whom 91 were hospitalized. Influenza diagnosis was confirmed in 131 children (26.1%); 120 of 410 (29.3%) treated as outpatients and 11 of 91 (12.1%) hospitalized children. A total of 370 of 501 children (73.9%) had no laboratory test positive for influenza. The proportion of subjects with other respiratory viruses was 145/501 (28.9%) cases and co-infection with the influenza virus plus another respiratory virus was detected in 7/501 (1.4%) cases. Influenza virus types were: A (H1N1 and H3N2) 53.2% (67/126); B (Victoria and Yamagata) 46.0% (58/126); A+B 0.8% (1/126). The median direct medical costs associated with each case of laboratory-confirmed influenza was €177.00 (N=131). No significant differences were observed between the medical costs associated with influenza A and B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost half of the cases were influenza virus B type. The administration of a vaccine containing influenza A and B types to children below 15 years of age might reduce the overall burden of the illness.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario de Basurto, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, España.
authors.forename: Naiara
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Lana
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario de Basurto, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, España. Electronic address: mariaisabel.garrotellanos@osakidetza.net.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garrote
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario de Basurto, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, España.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arístegui
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario de Basurto, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, España.
authors.forename: Joseba
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rementeria
authors.affiliation: Departamento Médico, GSK, Tres Cantos (Madrid), España.
authors.forename: Juan-Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: García-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Departamento Médico, GSK, Tres Cantos (Madrid), España.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCoig
authors.affiliation: Departamento Médico, GSK, Tres Cantos (Madrid), España.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: García-Corbeira
authors.affiliation: CDOC-B, GSK, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Raghavendra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Devadiga
authors.affiliation: GSK, Wavre, Bélgica.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tafalla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Emergency department; España; Gripe; Hospitalización; Hospitalization; Influenza; Servicio de Urgencia; Spain