BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine the clinical characteristics of children infected with different strains of influenza B viruses isolated in southern Taiwan. The clinical features were compared with influenza A infection occurring in the same period. METHODS: All children enrolled in the study had laboratory-confirmed infection with influenza A or B viruses. Influenza B speciation was performed by RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and amplification by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Demographic data, clinical findings, diagnoses, and outcomes were obtained. RESULTS: During the study period, 163 strains of influenza A and 118 strains of influenza B were isolated. The Yamagata-like strains were most prevalent in 2001. New reassortant strains were identified since 2002 and became predominant in 2005 and 2006. Children with influenza B were more likely than those with influenza A to be diagnosed as upper respiratory tract infection, myositis, and gastroenteritis (P < 0.05). Children infected with Yamagata-like strains were more likely to develop lower respiratory tract infection (P < 0.05) and accounted for all cases of invasive disease. Children infected with the Victoria-like group had the longest hospital stays associated with severe bacterial superinfection. CONCLUSIONS: Currently new reassortant influenza B viruses are the predominant strains circulating in southern Taiwan. There is considerable similarity of clinical features between influenza A and B in children. The Yamagata-like strains were associated with more invasive infections. Continuous influenza virus surveillance is essential particularly in Taiwan where pandemic strains tend to appear earlier than in other countries.
BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine the clinical characteristics of children infected with different strains of influenza B viruses isolated in southern Taiwan. The clinical features were compared with influenza A infection occurring in the same period. METHODS: All children enrolled in the study had laboratory-confirmed infection with influenza A or B viruses. Influenza B speciation was performed by RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and amplification by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Demographic data, clinical findings, diagnoses, and outcomes were obtained. RESULTS: During the study period, 163 strains of influenza A and 118 strains of influenza B were isolated. The Yamagata-like strains were most prevalent in 2001. New reassortant strains were identified since 2002 and became predominant in 2005 and 2006. Children with influenza B were more likely than those with influenza A to be diagnosed as upper respiratory tract infection, myositis, and gastroenteritis (P < 0.05). Children infected with Yamagata-like strains were more likely to develop lower respiratory tract infection (P < 0.05) and accounted for all cases of invasive disease. Children infected with the Victoria-like group had the longest hospital stays associated with severe bacterial superinfection. CONCLUSIONS: Currently new reassortant influenza B viruses are the predominant strains circulating in southern Taiwan. There is considerable similarity of clinical features between influenza A and B in children. The Yamagata-like strains were associated with more invasive infections. Continuous influenza virus surveillance is essential particularly in Taiwan where pandemic strains tend to appear earlier than in other countries.
Authors: W Paul Glezen; Jordana K Schmier; Carrie M Kuehn; Kellie J Ryan; John Oxford Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-01-17 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Jane Kuypers; Helen Y Chu; Charlotte A Gaydos; Joanne Katz; Subarna K Khatry; Steven C LeClerq; James M Tielsch; Mark C Steinhoff; Janet A Englund Journal: Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2018-11-15 Impact factor: 2.803
Authors: Benjamin J Cowling; Peng Wu; Janice Y C Lo; Kwok-Hung Chan; Eunice L Y Chan; Vicky J Fang; Lok-Yee So; J S Malik Peiris; Susan S Chiu Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2017-07-15 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Anne Mosnier; Saverio Caini; Isabelle Daviaud; Elodie Nauleau; Tan Tai Bui; Emmanuel Debost; Bernard Bedouret; Gérard Agius; Sylvie van der Werf; Bruno Lina; Jean Marie Cohen Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-09-01 Impact factor: 3.240