What clinical features impact morbidity and mortality in children with influenza?
Date First Published:
June 1, 2015
Last Updated:
August 13, 2015
Report by:
Shivani Agrawa MD, Colleen Bush MD, Emergency Medicine Physicians (Grand Rapids Medical Education Research Partners/Michigan State University)
Three-Part Question:
In [children with influenza A (H1N1) infection who present to the emergency department], what [clinical features] accurately [predict morbidity and mortality]?
Clinical Scenario:
A 2 year old child with history of prematurity with NICU stay presents with cough, runny nose and fever. She has not had an influenza vaccination this year. Parents have been using antipyretics without resolution of symptoms. The child has chest x-ray and laboratory studies performed. A nasal swab is positive for influenza A. The family is concerned about her prognosis given the past medical history.
Search Strategy:
Medline 1966-05/15 using OVID interface, Cochrane Library (2015), and Embase
Search Details:
[(Exp influenza A) AND (exp mortality)]. Limit to all children (0-18 years), prospective, and English language.
Outcome:
75 papers were identified, including two large-scale prospective clinical trials and one recent meta-analysis
Relevant Paper(s):
| Study Title | Patient Group | Study type (level of evidence) | Outcomes | Key results | Study Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Features associated with severe disease in hospitalized children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection at a university hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Al Subaie SS, Al Saadi MA May-11 Saudi Arabia | 1103 children with influenza like illness | Prospective cohort study | Children with underlying disease had more complications, respiratory or GI | 70% had underlying medical condition,94% had fever,all case treated with oseltamivir | Single center study, lack of community data, only a few admitted children |
| Identification of children at risk of influenza-related complications in primary and ambulatory care: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Gill PJ, Ashdown HF, Wang K, Heneghan C, Roberts NW, Harnden A, Mallett S Feb-15 UK | 28 articles that reported data from 27 studies (14 086 children) | Meta-analysis | The primary outcome was admission to hospital as a proxy for complications of influenza or influenza-like illness. | Strong risk factors for hospital admission were neurological disorders (OR 4.6), prematurity (OR 4.3), sickle cell disease (OR 3.5), immunosuppression (2.4), diabetes (OR 2.3), and age younger than 2 years (OR 2.5) | Many studies were done in hospital ambulatory care or emergency department settings,details of risk factor classifications were also often incomplete |
| Critically ill children during the 2009-2010 influenza pandemic in the United States Randolph AG, Vaughn F, Sullivan R, Rubinson L, Thompson BT, Yoon G, Smoot E, Rice TW, Loftis LL, Helfaer M, Doctor A, Paden M, Flori H, Babbitt C, Graciano AL, Gedeit R, Sanders RC, Giuliano JS, Zimme 2009 US | 838 PICU patients | retrospective and prospective observational cohort study |
The associations of mortality with patient-related factors (demographics, underlying health conditions, bacterial coinfections) and influenza-related clinical syndromes | Preexisting neurologic conditions or immunosuppression, encephalitis (1.7% of cases), myocarditis (1.4% of cases), early presumed MRSA lung coinfection, and female gender were mortality risk factors. Among previously healthy children, only early presumed MRSA coinfection of the lung (relative risk: 8) remained a mortality risk factor | PICU patients, missing data elements, 1 year study |
Author Commentary:
The H1N1 virus continues to circulate worldwide and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is important to recognize the prognostic risk factors to direct patient care and treatment.
Bottom Line:
Independent risk factors for influenza-related complications in children include prematurity, chronic neurological disorders, sickle cell disease, immunosuppression, diabetes,female gender,and age younger than 2 years. Efforts need to be focused on immunizing children to avoid severe disease and minimize complications.
References:
- Al Subaie SS, Al Saadi MA. Features associated with severe disease in hospitalized children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection at a university hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Gill PJ, Ashdown HF, Wang K, Heneghan C, Roberts NW, Harnden A, Mallett S. Identification of children at risk of influenza-related complications in primary and ambulatory care: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Randolph AG, Vaughn F, Sullivan R, Rubinson L, Thompson BT, Yoon G, Smoot E, Rice TW, Loftis LL, Helfaer M, Doctor A, Paden M, Flori H, Babbitt C, Graciano AL, Gedeit R, Sanders RC, Giuliano JS, Zimme. Critically ill children during the 2009-2010 influenza pandemic in the United States