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. 2011 Nov;5(6):e528-34.
doi: 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2011.00264.x. Epub 2011 May 25.

Epidemiological and clinical features of respiratory viral infections in hospitalized children during the circulation of influenza virus A(H1N1) 2009

Gianvincenzo Zuccotti  1 , Dario Dilillo, Alessandra Zappa, Erica Galli, Antonella Amendola, Marianna Martinelli, Elena Pariani, Filippo Salvini, Elisabetta Tanzi, Enrica Riva, Marcello Giovannini
Affiliations

Epidemiological and clinical features of respiratory viral infections in hospitalized children during the circulation of influenza virus A(H1N1) 2009

Gianvincenzo Zuccotti et al. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2011 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Seasonal influenza viruses and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are primary causes of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in children. New respiratory viruses including human metapneumovirus (hMPV), human bocavirus (hBoV), and influenza 2009 A(H1N1) virus have a strong impact on the pediatric population.

Objectives: To evaluate epidemiological and clinical features of ARTIs in hospitalized children.

Methods: From December 1, 2008, to December 31, 2009, all children under age fifteen (n = 575) hospitalized for ARTIs were investigated for influenza A (subtype H1N1, H3N2, and 2009 H1N1) and B, RSV A and B, hMPV, and hBoV by PCR.

Results: Fifty-one percent of samples were positive for these respiratory viruses. The frequencies of virus detection were RSV 34·1%, hBoV 6·8%, hMPV 5%, seasonal influenza A 5%, and seasonal influenza B 0%. From April 2009, 11·6% of collected samples were influenza 2009 A(H1N1) positive. Respiratory syncytial virus activity peaked in January, hBoV in February, and hMPV in April. Seasonal influenza A was detected only between January and April 2009, while influenza 2009 A(H1N1) peaked in November. Respiratory syncytial virus and hMPV were mainly associated with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and with necessity of O(2) administration. The 2009 pandemic influenza was more frequently detected in elder children (P < 0·001) and was associated with higher, longer-lasting fevers compared with other viral infections (P < 0·05).

Conclusions: All considered viruses were involved in LRTIs. The primary clinical relevance of RSV and a similar involvement of both seasonal influenza and emerging viruses investigated were observed on the pediatric population.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Monthly distribution of detected respiratory viruses in children hospitalized for respiratory tract infections between December 2008 and December 2009.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age‐group distribution of detected viruses in children hospitalized for respiratory tract infections.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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