The pandemic strain of influenza, H1N1v2009, which was
feared to cause severe respiratory distress and illness, did not have the
severe effect as predicted on the pediatric population, according to study
results.
Carmen Laurent, MD, of the department of
pediatrics at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Caen in France, and
colleagues evaluated children aged younger than 2 years who were admitted to
the pediatric ED with respiratory symptoms between November 2009 and April 2010
to determine the effect of the virus on this age group.
Laurent and colleagues reported that during the study
period, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most common infection
(34.2%), followed by rhinoviruses (23.9%), coronaviruses (9.3%) and H1N1v2009
(7.7%). RSV was responsible for 71.4% of ICU admissions and had the greatest
level of respiratory severity, whereas H1N1v2009 had a low risk of severe
respiratory disease. The virus resulted in a lower incidence of infection and
less severe disease than expected.
“Despite the modest impact of H1N1v2009 observed in
this study, further surveillance is needed to detect virological factors that
may increase its severity,” the researchers said.
References:
- Laurent C. Pediatr Infect Dis J.
2012;doi:10.1097/INF.0b013e3182566005.
Disclosures:
- Dr. Laurent reports no relevant financial disclosures.