Influenza A associated morbidity and mortality in a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit

Authors

  • Bronwyn G Milne Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW 2145
  • Stephen Williams Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales
  • Meryta L A May The Department of Microbiology and Virology, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales
  • Alison M Kesson The Department of Microbiology and Virology, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales
  • Jonathan Gillis Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales
  • Margaret A Burgess The National Centre for Immunisation Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2004.28.58

Keywords:

Influenza A, influenza immunisation, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Influenza A (H3N2) Fujian/411/2002 type

Abstract

This paper reports the clinical features and outcome of all children with a laboratory proven diagnosis of influenza A virus infection admitted to a major Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in 2003. Eight of the 22 patients with influenza A virus infection (A/Fujian/411/2002-like type) presented with encephalopathy and three of the 22 patients died. This can be compared with 44 admissions and seven (16%) deaths of patients with influenza virus admitted in the same PICU in the preceding 15 years. In the present cohort, four (18%) of the 22 patients, including one child who died, should have received influenza vaccine according to the current Australian immunisation recommendations. We have no documented evidence that any of the 22 children received influenza vaccination. During the 2003 influenza season there was an increased number of children admitted to our PICU with influenza A infection and an increased number of deaths compared with previous years. Influenza infection causes significant morbidity and mortality in young children, most of whom are not currently recommended for annual influenza vaccination. Commun Dis Intell 2004; 28:504–509.

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Published

31/12/04

How to Cite

Milne, Bronwyn G, Stephen Williams, Meryta L A May, Alison M Kesson, Jonathan Gillis, and Margaret A Burgess. 2004. “Influenza A Associated Morbidity and Mortality in a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit”. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 28 (December):504-9. https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2004.28.58.

Issue

Vol. 28 (2004)

Section

Original article

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