Impact of influenza infection in healthy children examined as outpatients and their families

Clinical manifestations and socio-economic impact of influenza among healthy children in the community

“…However, it was clinically more important than the influenza-negative ILIs because the influenza-positive children more frequently had high-grade and long-lasting fever and long-lasting symptoms, needed further examinations after diagnosis, and received more antipyretic doses. The significant incidence of influenza among children in the community, and its greater seriousness in comparison with other respiratory infections, have been reported by Heikkinen et al 15 and Tsolia et al 16 However, as these studies were carried out at different times and in different countries, our findings confirm that the clinical importance of influenza is constant and largely independent of temporal or geographical factors.…”

“…Only a small number of such studies have so far been carried out, 15,16 and they have not answered all of the questions related to the real burden of influenza in healthy children. The aim of this study was to provide further information that would help to evaluate the cost of paediatric influenza and clarify the potential cost effectiveness of influenza vaccination.…”

Reducing the Burden of Influenza-Associated Complications with Antiviral Therapy

“…Croup is very strongly associated with influenza infections in children, with influenza A having been isolated in 68% of those with the disease during the peak month of a composite of 13 consecutive US outbreaks [11]. Otitis media was confirmed in 18.5% of children one to 12 years old in a clinical study [12], and very similar estimates were reported in a seasonal surveillance of influenza-positive children up to 14 years old (18.5%) [13], and in a vaccine efficacy study in 1-to 5-year-olds (21%) [14].…”

Performance of rapid influenza testing in hospitalized children

“…Influenza is also associated with an enhanced morbidity burden within both the outpatient and community settings [4].…”