J Korean Pediatr Soc.  2002 Dec;45(12):1519-1527.

Clinical Analysis of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections by Influenza Virus in Children

• Kwon MK
• Kim MR
• Park EY
• Lee KH
• Yoon HS
• Kim KN
• Lee KM

Abstract

PURPOSE
Although influenza virus is one of the most important causes of acute respiratory tract infections(ARTIs) in children, virus isolation is not popular and there are only a few clinical studies on influenza in Korea. We evaluated the epidemiologic and clinical features of ARTIs by influenza virus in children.
METHODS
From February 1995 to August 2001, nasopharyngeal aspirations were obtained and cultured for the isolation of influenza virus in children admitted with ARTIs. The medical records of patients with influenza virus infection were reviewed retrospectively.
RESULTS
Respiratory viruses were isolated in 997(22.0%) out of 4,533 patients examined, and influenza virus was isolated in 164 cases(3.6%). Influenza virus was isolated year after year mainly from December to April of next year. The ratio of male and female was 1.9 : 1 with a median age of 15 months. The most common clinical diagnosis of influenza virus infection was pneumonia, and fever and cough developed in most patients. There was no difference between influenza A and B infection in clinical diagnoses and symptoms. All patients recovered without receiving antiviral treatment except for one patient diagnosed with pneumonia who had underlying disease of Down syndrome with ventricular septal defect.
CONCLUSIONS
ARTIs caused by influenza virus developed every winter and spring during the period of study. Because fatal complication can develop in the high risk group, prevention, early diagnosis and proper management of influenza should be emphasized.

Keyword

Influenza virus; Acute respiratory tract infections; Children

MeSH Terms

Aspirations (Psychology)
Child*
Cough
Diagnosis
Down Syndrome
Early Diagnosis
Female
Fever
Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular
Humans
Influenza, Human*
Korea
Male
Medical Records
Orthomyxoviridae*
Pneumonia
Respiratory System*
Respiratory Tract Infections*
Retrospective Studies