Comparative Severity of Influenza A and B Infections in Hospitalized Children



: Mattila Janna-Maija, Vuorinen Tytti, Heikkinen Terho

Publisher: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS

: 2020

: Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal

: PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL

: PEDIATR INFECT DIS J

: 39

: 6

: 489

: 493

: 5

: 0891-3668

: 1532-0987

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/INF.0000000000002610

: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/48428945


Background:Influenza A viruses are conventionally thought to cause more severe illnesses than B viruses, but few studies with long observation periods have compared the clinical severity of A and B infections in hospitalized children.Methods:We analyzed the clinical presentation, outcomes and management of all children <16 years of age admitted to Turku University Hospital, Finland, with virologically confirmed influenza A or B infection during the 14-year period of 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2018. All comparisons between influenza A and B were performed both within predefined age groups (0-2, 3-9 and 10-15 years) and in all age groups combined.Results:Among 391 children hospitalized with influenza A or B infection, influenza A was diagnosed in 279 (71.4%) and influenza B in 112 (28.6%) children. Overall, there were no significant differences in any clinical features or outcomes, management, treatment at intensive care unit or length of stay between children with influenza A and B, whether analyzed by age group or among all children. As indicators of the most severe clinical presentations, blood cultures were obtained from 101 (36.2%) children with influenza A and 39 (34.8%) with influenza B (P = 0.80), and lumbar puncture was performed to 16 (5.7%) children with influenza A and 11 (9.8%) children with influenza B (P = 0.15).Conclusions:The clinical severity of influenza A and B infections is similar in children. For optimal protection against severe influenza illnesses, the use of quadrivalent vaccines containing both lineages of B viruses seems warranted in children.

Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 22:14