Influenza-Associated Pediatric Deaths in the United States, 2004–2012

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Pediatrics
• Personal Author:
  Wong, Karen K. ; Jain, Seema ; Blanton, Lenee ; Dhara, Rosaline ; Brammer, Lynnette ; Fry, Alicia M. ; Finelli, Lyn
• Description:
  BACKGROUND
  
  Influenza-associated deaths in children occur annually. We describe the epidemiology of influenza-associated pediatric deaths from the 2004–2005 through the 2011–2012 influenza seasons.
  
  METHODS
  
  Deaths in children <18 years of age with laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infection were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by using a standard case report form to collect data on demographic characteristics, medical conditions, clinical course, and laboratory results. Characteristics of children with no high-risk medical conditions were compared with those of children with high-risk medical conditions.
  
  RESULTS
  
  From October 2004 through September 2012, 830 pediatric influenza–associated deaths were reported. The median age was 7 years (interquartile range: 1–12 years). Thirty-five percent of children died before hospital admission. Of 794 children with a known medical history, 43% had no high-risk medical conditions, 33% had neurologic disorders, and 12% had genetic or chromosomal disorders. Children without high-risk medical conditions were more likely to die before hospital admission (relative risk: 1.9; 95% confidence interval: 1.6–2.4) and within 3 days of symptom onset (relative risk: 1.6; 95% confidence interval: 1.3–2.0) than those with high-risk medical conditions.
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  
  Influenza can be fatal in children with and without high-risk medical conditions. These findings highlight the importance of recommendations that all children should receive annual influenza vaccination to prevent influenza, and children who are hospitalized, who have severe illness, or who are at high risk of complications (age <2 years or with medical conditions) should receive antiviral treatment as early as possible.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Child Child, Preschool Female Hospitalization Humans Infant Influenza, Human Male Mortality Population Surveillance
• Source:
  Pediatrics. 132(5):796-804.
• Pubmed ID:
  24167165
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC6027595
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Volume:
  132
• Issue:
  5
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:4e50f4a2bcbd2b7350eefb51dc6e60557158b50c6780ed01774cc29acbc84c30
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/56648/cdc_56648_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 498.73 KB ]