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. 2009 May;3(3):91-8.
doi: 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2009.00079.x.

Effect of rapid influenza testing on the clinical management of paediatric influenza

Lance C Jennings  1 , Heino Skopnik, Isabel Burckhardt, Irene Hribar, Luc Del Piero, Klaus A Deichmann
Affiliations

Effect of rapid influenza testing on the clinical management of paediatric influenza

Lance C Jennings et al. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2009 May.

Abstract

Background: Rapid tests are now widely available to assist the diagnosis of influenza; implementation may optimise the use of antiviral and antibiotic agents in the clinical management of influenza.

Objective: To explore the clinical management of children with influenza-like illness (ILI) when rapid influenza tests were and were not performed.

Methods: Between 15 January 2007 and 30 April 2007, a standardised questionnaire was used to record the clinical features of children aged 1-12 years who presented to office-based paediatricians in Germany with febrile ILI during periods of local influenza activity. For each paediatric contact, a clinical diagnosis of either 'influenza positive', 'influenza negative' or 'suspected ILI' was made. Where performed, the outcome of a Clearview Exact Influenza A + B rapid test was recorded. Prescriptions for antiviral agents and antibiotic medications were also recorded.

Results: A total of 16 907 questionnaires were evaluated. After fever (an entry criteria for all children), cough (84.6%), fatigue/decreased activity (83.0%), rhinorrhoea (73.7%) and headache (67.1%) were the most common symptoms. Influenza was clinically diagnosed in 56.8% (9596/16 907) of cases. The antiviral oseltamivir was prescribed for 24.6% (178/725) of children who were influenza positive by symptom assessment alone and 60.1% (4618/7685) of children who were influenza positive by rapid test. Antibiotics were less commonly prescribed for children who were influenza positive by rapid test [3.5% (271/7685) versus 17.2% (125/725) for symptom assessment alone].

Conclusions: In children with ILI, a positive rapid test result for influenza promotes the rational use of antiviral agents and reduces the inappropriate use of antibiotic medications.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Questionnaire completion process followed by paediatricans participating in the study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Time to presentation following symptom onset for the children aged 1–12 years who were evaluated in the analysis (overall patient group; n = 16 907).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Clinical diagnoses for the children aged 1–12 years who were evaluated in the analysis (control group versus rapid test group; clinical diagnosis made before rapid test in the latter).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Concordance between the clinical diagnosis and rapid test outcome (rapid test group; clinical diagnosis made before rapid test).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Physicians’ prescribing behaviour for (A) the management of the children aged 1–12 years who were evaluated in the analysis and (B) the prophylaxis of their family members, when rapid influenza tests were and were not performed (control versus rapid test group).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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