Aim of the study: To describe epidemiological features of an outbreak of flu A in hospitalized children and to evaluate the flu's burden in pediatric and pediatric emergencies departments.
Population and methods: Multicenter prospective study in 2 pediatric university hospitals, in Marseille, France. Nasal swabs for flu A were performed in all the febrile children admitted during winter 2003-2004. Pre and postoutbreak admissions in pediatric and pediatric emergencies departments were compared too.
Results: During the outbreak, 941 children were admitted and 605 were tested for flu A. Nasal swabs were positive in 111. Attack's rate was 11.8%. In these children, infants under 2 years were 66%. Respiratory forms were uncommon, although febrile seizures and digestive troubles were much frequent. The mean hospitalization duration was almost 4 days. Flu A outbreak finally increased the pediatric and pediatric emergencies departments rates of admission, of 48% and 37% respectively.
Conclusion: Flu is frequently underestimated in children, especially in infants. Clinical forms are various. Child's vaccination is questionable in France.