Abstract
The rapid increase of new cases of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in Italy in the autumn 2009 was alarming and limited data were available on disease characteristics and outcomes of children who required hospital admission.
Objective: To describe clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome of children hospitalized for H1N1 pandemic influenza in the nineteen Pediatric Units of the Veneto Region (North-Eastern Italy, ∼800.000 inhabitants 0-17 years).
Methods: Retrospective study including children consecutively admitted from November 2009 to February 2010 for H1N1 influenza confirmed on reverse-transcriptase polymerase-chain-reaction assay.
Results: Clinical, laboratory, and radiographic data of 200 children were reviewed. The median age was 4.15 years (range 0-17.5). At least one underlying medical condition was found in 43.5% of patients. Fever and cough were the most frequent symptoms (92.5% and 64.5% respectively). In 81% of patients chest radiograph findings were consistent with pneumonia. Eleven (5.5 %) were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) and 5 (2.5%) required mechanical ventilation. Only 1 patient admitted to ICU was previously healthy. Antiviral therapy was administered in 103 patients (51.5%) after a median of 2 days from onset of symptoms. Secondary bacterial infection was identified in 8/200 (4%). The median length of hospital stay was 4 days (range 1-72). Death occurred in 2 patients (1%), who both had severe prior medical conditions.
Conclusion: Pandemic H1N1 influenza rarely requires hospitalization and, in hospitalized children, it mainly appears to cause a mild disease. The presence of pre-existing conditions is the most significant risk factor for severe disease.
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Chillemi, C., Cavicchiolo, M., Bressan, S. et al. 890 Pandemic Influenza a (H1N1) Infection in Pediatric Population: A Multicentric Study in North-Eastern Italy. Pediatr Res 68 (Suppl 1), 446 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00890
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00890