Burden, Risk Factors, and Clinical Outcomes of Pediatric Influenza in a Population with Extremely Low Vaccine Coverage.
Influenza is a contagious viral respiratory tract infection that causes severe illness, particularly in high-risk populations such as young children and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. The study aims to identify clinical characteristics and key risk factors associated with respiratory support and mortality in children with influenza infection.
This retrospective, multicenter study was conducted across 33 hospitals from 19 cities in Türkiye. Data from pediatric inpatients aged <18 years diagnosed with influenza between October 2023 and May 2024 were analyzed.
Among 1032 hospitalized children infected with influenza, 394 (38.2%) required respiratory support. The respiratory support group was significantly younger, with a mean age of 3.40 ± 4.37 years, compared to 4.96 ± 4.36 years in the non-respiratory support group (P < .001). The frequency of any underlying disease was significantly higher in the respiratory support group (P < .001). Notably, conditions such as neurometabolic disorders (20.3% vs. 9.6%) and pulmonary diseases (7.1% vs. 2.8%) were more common in this group. Influenza A infection and viral coinfections, particularly with respiratory syncytial virus, increased the likelihood of mechanical ventilation and mortality. The mortality proportion of all patients with influenza infection was 1.3% and the influenza vaccine coverage was only 1.1%.
These findings highlight the urgent need to incorporate influenza vaccination into the national immunization program, especially for high-risk pediatric populations.
This retrospective, multicenter study was conducted across 33 hospitals from 19 cities in Türkiye. Data from pediatric inpatients aged <18 years diagnosed with influenza between October 2023 and May 2024 were analyzed.
Among 1032 hospitalized children infected with influenza, 394 (38.2%) required respiratory support. The respiratory support group was significantly younger, with a mean age of 3.40 ± 4.37 years, compared to 4.96 ± 4.36 years in the non-respiratory support group (P < .001). The frequency of any underlying disease was significantly higher in the respiratory support group (P < .001). Notably, conditions such as neurometabolic disorders (20.3% vs. 9.6%) and pulmonary diseases (7.1% vs. 2.8%) were more common in this group. Influenza A infection and viral coinfections, particularly with respiratory syncytial virus, increased the likelihood of mechanical ventilation and mortality. The mortality proportion of all patients with influenza infection was 1.3% and the influenza vaccine coverage was only 1.1%.
These findings highlight the urgent need to incorporate influenza vaccination into the national immunization program, especially for high-risk pediatric populations.
Authors
Aykac Aykac, Yakin Yakin, Dogan Ickin Dogan Ickin, Uluisik Uluisik, Demir Demir, Genceli Genceli, Metin Akcan Metin Akcan, Mete Atasever Mete Atasever, Somer Somer, Sahin Izci Sahin Izci, Dalgic Dalgic, Cakmak Taskin Cakmak Taskin, Aksoy Aksoy, Ciftci Ciftci, Celebi Celebi, Hacimustafaoglu Hacimustafaoglu, Kanik-Yuksek Kanik-Yuksek, Ozkaya-Parlakay Ozkaya-Parlakay, Ozen Ozen, Konca Konca, Bayraktar Bayraktar, Coskun Coskun, Kus Kus, Kara Aksay Kara Aksay, Büyüktas Aytac Büyüktas Aytac, Akkoc Akkoc, Ocal Demir Ocal Demir, Ozlu Ozlu, Kilic Kaya Kilic Kaya, Disci Disci, Ilbay Ilbay, Guder Guder, Alkan Alkan, Ozyalvac Ozyalvac, Emiroglu Emiroglu, Sener Okur Sener Okur, Bostan Bostan, Mardinoglu Mardinoglu, Kilic Kilic, Hitay Telefon Hitay Telefon, Kilic Cil Kilic Cil, Essizoglu Essizoglu, Celik Celik, Ozgul Postuk Ozgul Postuk, Gokce Gayretli Aydin Gokce Gayretli Aydin, Toy Usta Toy Usta, Celikkalkan Celikkalkan, Karaoglu Asrak Karaoglu Asrak, Bicen Bicen, Asena Asena, Avcu Avcu, Ekemen Ekemen, Cakil Guzin Cakil Guzin, Karadag Oncel Karadag Oncel, Bayturan Sen Bayturan Sen, Sinav Utku Sinav Utku, Oncel Oncel, Iseri Nepesov Iseri Nepesov, Erdede Erdede, Kacar Kacar, Gulderen Gulderen, Ozer Ozer, Kilicaslan Kilicaslan, Karbuz Karbuz, Cakici Cakici, Avci Avci, Yasar Yasar, Umit Umit, Erdem Erdem, Sahinkaya Sahinkaya, Gudeloglu Cetiz Gudeloglu Cetiz, Sinanoglu Sinanoglu, İlhan İlhan, Kara Kara, Ekemen Keles Ekemen Keles, Kiymet Kiymet, Gokay Gokay, Yesil Yesil, Kuyucu Kuyucu, Ceylan Cura Yayla Ceylan Cura Yayla, Avcı Avcı, Cengiz Cengiz, Ozsurekci Ozsurekci
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