Influenza among Children Admitted to the Emergency Department of Children’s Hospital in Vilnius: Two Seasons, Two Viruses

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Laboratorinė medicina. 2020,
t. 22,
Nr. 2,
p. 68 -
73

Summary

Background. No specific clinical signs of influenza are defined, although type A is thought to dominate and be responsible for more severe cases of influenza diseases.

Our study aimed to determine the value of clinical signs and routine laboratory results on influenza diagnose among children, reveal possible differences among different influenza subtypes.

Methods. A retrospective study was conducted at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos during two influenza seasons (2016/2017 and 2017/2018 year). Basic demographic, clinical data, vaccination for influenza status and results of laboratory testing, were collected.

Results. Data of 655 influenza cases were analysed. Among them 355 (54.2%) were boys. Influenza A cases from 2016/2017 season and influenza B cases from 2017/2018 season were compared. Average age of influenza patients was 6.25±2.1 years: in influenza A group - 5.5±4.5 years, and in influenza B - 7.2±4.3 years. The main symptoms were fever 647 (98.8%), cough 387 (59.1%) and rhinitis 302 (46.1%). Diarrhoea, stomach ache, muscle pain, headache were more prominent in influenza B group. Complications were found more common in influenza A group (82 (55.4%)) and among children above 12 years of age (28/112 (25%)). Overall 159 (24.3%) children were hospitalized (influenza A dominated (56.6%)).

Conclusions. The incidence of influenza B is increasing in children under 12 years of age and the incidence of influenza A is decreasing with increasing age of children (p=0.00). No significant statistical difference was found in clinical signs, complications and hospitalisation rate among two influenza virus types.

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