BACKGROUND: Asthma seems to be the more prevalent underlying condition in patients hospitalized for H1N1-related flu. METHODS: A prospective survey was conducted during the early phase of H1N1 pandemic in France in asthmatic children before vaccination to assess whether severe exacerbations in childhood asthma are associated with influenza-like illness (ILI, the definition of H1N1-related flu in a pandemic). Eight pediatricians in primary care distributed in three localities (Paris, south suburb, and west suburb) conducted the survey (4 weeks/locality from week 36 to 47). At each visit, the pediatrician filled a questionnaire entering the information regarding asthma treatment, severe exacerbation (at least 3 days' use of systemic corticosteroids), and ILI (temperature ≥37.8°C, cough, and/or sore throat, in the absence of a known cause other than influenza) during the past 3 weeks. RESULTS: The survey included 1155 asthmatic children (mean age [SD]: 7.5 years [4.1]); almost all visits were scheduled (99%). A severe exacerbation was recorded in 121 children [10.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.7-12.2%], which was concomitant with ILI in 20 children (16.5%; 95% CI: 9.9-23.2%), whereas 1034 children did not exhibit any exacerbation. In these latter children, 40 ILI were observed (3.9%; 95% CI: 2.7-5.0%), which constituted a significantly lesser percentage as compared with children with both exacerbation and ILI (p < .0001). This result remained significant in each locality. Overall, 60/1155 (5.2%; 95% CI: 3.9-6.5%) asthmatic children had an ILI. CONCLUSIONS: Our survey shows that severe exacerbation and ILI are strongly associated during the H1N1 pandemic in asthmatic children.
BACKGROUND:Asthma seems to be the more prevalent underlying condition in patients hospitalized for H1N1-related flu. METHODS: A prospective survey was conducted during the early phase of H1N1 pandemic in France in asthmatic children before vaccination to assess whether severe exacerbations in childhood asthma are associated with influenza-like illness (ILI, the definition of H1N1-related flu in a pandemic). Eight pediatricians in primary care distributed in three localities (Paris, south suburb, and west suburb) conducted the survey (4 weeks/locality from week 36 to 47). At each visit, the pediatrician filled a questionnaire entering the information regarding asthma treatment, severe exacerbation (at least 3 days' use of systemic corticosteroids), and ILI (temperature ≥37.8°C, cough, and/or sore throat, in the absence of a known cause other than influenza) during the past 3 weeks. RESULTS: The survey included 1155 asthmatic children (mean age [SD]: 7.5 years [4.1]); almost all visits were scheduled (99%). A severe exacerbation was recorded in 121 children [10.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.7-12.2%], which was concomitant with ILI in 20 children (16.5%; 95% CI: 9.9-23.2%), whereas 1034 children did not exhibit any exacerbation. In these latter children, 40 ILI were observed (3.9%; 95% CI: 2.7-5.0%), which constituted a significantly lesser percentage as compared with children with both exacerbation and ILI (p < .0001). This result remained significant in each locality. Overall, 60/1155 (5.2%; 95% CI: 3.9-6.5%) asthmatic children had an ILI. CONCLUSIONS: Our survey shows that severe exacerbation and ILI are strongly associated during the H1N1 pandemic in asthmatic children.
Authors: Kirsten M Kloepfer; Jaime P Olenec; Wai Ming Lee; Guiyan Liu; Rose F Vrtis; Kathy A Roberg; Michael D Evans; Ronald E Gangnon; Robert F Lemanske; James E Gern Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2012-02-23 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Bobby W S Li; Marjolein J W de Bruijn; Melanie Lukkes; Menno van Nimwegen; Ingrid M Bergen; Alex KleinJan; Corine H GeurtsvanKessel; Arno Andeweg; Guus F Rimmelzwaan; Rudi W Hendriks Journal: Eur J Immunol Date: 2018-06-11 Impact factor: 5.532