Swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in infants

Abstract

There are few reports on pandemic swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in very young infants. We aimed to discuss the clinical characteristics and management of the H1N1 influenza infection in very young infants. Clinical characteristics of ten infants diagnosed with H1N1 influenza virus infection during the 2009 outbreak season in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit were evaluated. The diagnosis was confirmed by testing of respiratory samples with pandemic H1N1 influenza specific real-time PCR assay. Of the 46 patients with fever or respiratory problems, ten (22%) were diagnosed with H1N1 influenza virus infection during the 2009 (October-December) peak outbreak season. All infants including the preterms were admitted from home, seven (70%) were full-term and three (30%) were preterm. Median age of the patients at admission was 24.5 days. Fever and cough were the most common symptoms. Apnea was the initial symptoms in three patients. Two patients required oxygen support, one of which, a preterm baby, had been mechanically ventilated for 2 days. Mean duration of hospitalization was 7.8 ± 4.9 days. Chest radiography revealed radio-opacities on both lung fields in six patients. In addition, two patients had co-infection. All patients with proven infection were given oseltamivir medication. Recovery was achieved in all patients with no residual deficits or side effects from the antiviral oseltamivir treatment. The H1N1 influenza virus infection in very young infants appears to be mild to moderate in severity. The outcomes of the infants may be influenced by antiviral therapy. Treatment with antiviral oseltamivir appears to have no major adverse effects.

Influenza infection in infants aged <6 months during the H1N1‐09 pandemic: A hospital‐based case series

“…An Argentinian study during the pandemic reported a hospitalisation rate for children <15 years old double that of their 2008 season and a mortality rate 10 times greater but did not provide data for infants . Other studies from the 2009 season have shown that young infants are more likely to be hospitalised with influenza but have good outcomes …”

Determination of the Frequency of Human Bocavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Among 0-2 Years Age Group Children Diagnosed as Acute Bronchiolitis

“…İnfluenza ve AdV gibi diğer solunum virusları da mevsimsel epidemiler sırasında nadiren akut bronşiyolit ve hospitalizasyonun önemli sebebi olarak rapor edilmektedir 16 . 25,26 . Çalışma-daki örneklerin toplanma periyodu, influenza A H1N1 pandemisine denk gelmiş olup, bu virus RV ile aynı oranda (%29), RSV'den sonra en sık saptanan ikinci virus olmuştur.…”

Differential Pathological and Immune Responses in Newly Weaned Ferrets Are Associated with a Mild Clinical Outcome of Pandemic 2009 H1N1 Infection

“…During the spring and fall 2009 pandemic waves in North America, pediatric patients accounted for at least 30% to 40% of the total H1N1pdm hospital admissions (32,78). Unexpectedly, recent clinical reports and case studies suggested that the clinical symptoms of the majority of H1N1pdm pediatric patients were mild to moderate (32,45,52,78,89,98,99). In addition, severe H1N1pdm cases (including those requiring admission to an intensive care unit and those involving fatalities) were more frequent in the older age groups.…”