Evaluation of the Children Hospitalized with Pandemic H1N1 Influenza

Objective: In April 2009, a new influenza virus (H1N1) emerged in Mexico and USA that quickly spread worldwide and the World Health Organization declared this outbreak as the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century. The aim of this study was to evaluate the laboratory confirmed children hospitalized due to pandemic influenza in our hospital.Material and Methods: Fifty-six patients who were hospitalized between October 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010 due to pandemic influenza, were followed prospectively in the Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases,Erciyes University Medical Faculty, and patients with laboratory confirmed tests were included in this study. Results: Seventy three percent of the patients hospitalized due to pandemic influenza (n=41/56) were confirmed and 37 patients were included in this study. Median age was 6.2 years (1 month-18 years) and 51.4% of the patients were female. The most common symptoms were fever (83.8%), cough (81.1%) and respiratory distress (45.9%). The most common finding was pharyngeal hyperemia (89.2%). It was determined that 48.6% of the patients (n=17/35) had increased aspartate aminotransferase levels, 42.9% of the patients (n=9/21) had increased creatine kinase levels, and 18% of the patients (n=6/33) had increased alanine aminotransferase levels. Six patients (16.2%) had leukopenia, seven (18.9%) had neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count <1500/mm3) and eleven (29.7%) had lymphopenia. Underlying diseases were detected in 64.9% of the patients (n=24) and 45.8% of these patients (n=11) had neurological diseases. Five patients required intensive care and mechanical ventilation, four of them (10.8%) died. Conclusion: H1N1 infection in children had features similar to those of seasonal influenza. Underlying medical conditions can increase the morbidity and mortality of the disease.