Illness symptoms and absences due to influenza in different age groups of children

: Heikkinen T, Silvennoinen H, Reunanen T, Ziegler T, Vainionpaa R

: 2004

: International Congress Series

: OPTIONS FOR THE CONTROL OF INFLUENZA V

: INT CONGR SER

: 1263

: 101

: 104

: 4

: 0-444-51639-5

: 0531-5131

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ics.2004.04.018

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that influenza causes substantial numbers of excess outpatient visits and hospitalizations in children during epidemics. However, scarce data are available on the total burden of influenza in outpatient children. Methods: In a prospective cohort study carried out during two consecutive influenza seasons (2000-2002), we determined the duration of symptoms in children with culture-confirmed influenza. The children's and their parents' absences from day care, school, or work were also determined. Results: A total of 372 episodes of influenza were diagnosed during the study. The durations of all symptoms were inversely correlated with age. The mean duration of influenza illness was 10.4 days in children younger than 3 years, 9.1 days in those aged 3-6 years, and 7.3 days in children older than 7 years. The duration of parental absenteeism from work as well as children's own absences from day care or school were also longest in children younger than 3 years. Conclusions: The findings indicate that the impact of influenza is greatest among the youngest children. Targeting influenza vaccination to children younger than 3 years might prove most beneficial for reducing the total burden of influenza in children. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.