Unchanged severity of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 infection in children during first postpandemic season

Emerg Infect Dis. 2012 Nov;18(11):1755-62. doi: 10.3201/eid1811.120719.

Abstract

We conducted a nationwide hospital-based prospective study in Germany of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 cases among children <15 years of age admitted to pediatric intensive care units and related deaths during the 2009-10 pandemic and the 2010-11 postpandemic influenza seasons. We identified 156 eligible patients: 112 in 2009-10 and 44 in 2010-11. Although a shift to younger patients occurred in 2010-11 (median age 3.2 vs. 5.3 years), infants <1 year of age remained the most affected. Underlying immunosuppression was a risk factor for hospital-acquired infections (p = 0.013), which accounted for 14% of cases. Myocarditis was predictive of death (p = 0.006). Of the 156 case-patients, 17% died; the difference between seasons was not significant (p = 0.473). Our findings stress the challenge of preventing severe postpandemic influenza infection in children and the need to prevent nosocomial transmission of influenza virus, especially in immunosuppressed children.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology
  • Germany
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology*
  • Influenza, Human / history
  • Pandemics
  • Population Surveillance
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Seasons