BACKGROUND: Viral respiratory infections are common in infants and can be severe. The new pandemic influenza virus H1N1v2009 was feared to cause particularly severe outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at evaluating the impact of H1N1v2009 on the viral epidemiology, the clinical presentation and the severity of respiratory infections in infants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective epidemiologic study included all infants <2 years of age, both inpatients and outpatients, presenting with respiratory symptoms, from November 2009 through April 2010, at the pediatric emergency department of the University Hospital of Caen, France. A nasal swab was taken for viral detection and analyzed by immunofluorescence and, if negative, polymerase chain reaction. Severe respiratory infection was defined by a score of respiratory severity. RESULTS: One thousand twenty-one infectious episodes with a respiratory sample met inclusion criteria. Eight hundred thirty-four samples (81.7%) were positive. The viruses with the highest incidence were the respiratory syncytial virus (34.2%), the rhinoviruses (23.9%), the coronaviruses (9.3%) and H1N1v2009 (7.7%). Of all infections, 28.6% were severe and more frequent in infants with risk factors. H1N1v2009 infections had a low risk of severe respiratory disease (odds ratios = 0.15) and hospitalization (odds ratios = 0.40) compared with the other viruses. Respiratory syncytial virus infections had a high risk of respiratory severity (odds ratios = 7.85) and were responsible for 71.4% of admissions to the intensive care unit. CONCLUSION: Despite the modest impact of H1N1v2009 observed in this study, further surveillance is needed to detect virological factors that may increase its severity.
BACKGROUND: Viral respiratory infections are common in infants and can be severe. The new pandemic influenza virus H1N1v2009 was feared to cause particularly severe outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at evaluating the impact of H1N1v2009 on the viral epidemiology, the clinical presentation and the severity of respiratory infections in infants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective epidemiologic study included all infants <2 years of age, both inpatients and outpatients, presenting with respiratory symptoms, from November 2009 through April 2010, at the pediatric emergency department of the University Hospital of Caen, France. A nasal swab was taken for viral detection and analyzed by immunofluorescence and, if negative, polymerase chain reaction. Severe respiratory infection was defined by a score of respiratory severity. RESULTS: One thousand twenty-one infectious episodes with a respiratory sample met inclusion criteria. Eight hundred thirty-four samples (81.7%) were positive. The viruses with the highest incidence were the respiratory syncytial virus (34.2%), the rhinoviruses (23.9%), the coronaviruses (9.3%) and H1N1v2009 (7.7%). Of all infections, 28.6% were severe and more frequent in infants with risk factors. H1N1v2009 infections had a low risk of severe respiratory disease (odds ratios = 0.15) and hospitalization (odds ratios = 0.40) compared with the other viruses. Respiratory syncytial virus infections had a high risk of respiratory severity (odds ratios = 7.85) and were responsible for 71.4% of admissions to the intensive care unit. CONCLUSION: Despite the modest impact of H1N1v2009 observed in this study, further surveillance is needed to detect virological factors that may increase its severity.
Authors: Theresa J Ochoa; Rossana Bautista; Carmen Dávila; José Antonio Salazar; Carlos Bazán; Oscar Guerra; Jean Pierre Llanos; Luis López; Alonso Zea-Vera; Lucie Ecker Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2014-10-06 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Niek B Achten; Pingsheng Wu; Louis Bont; Maarten O Blanken; Tebeb Gebretsadik; James D Chappell; Li Wang; Chang Yu; Emma K Larkin; Kecia N Carroll; Larry J Anderson; Martin L Moore; Chantel D Sloan; Tina V Hartert Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2017-04-01 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: Katherine L Anders; Hoa L Nguyen; Nguyet Minh Nguyen; Nguyen Thi Van Thuy; Nguyen Thi Hong Van; Nguyen Trong Hieu; Nguyen Thi Hong Tham; Phan Thi Thanh Ha; Le Bich Lien; Nguyen Van Vinh Chau; Vu Thi Ty Hang; H Rogier van Doorn; Cameron P Simmons Journal: Pediatr Infect Dis J Date: 2015-04 Impact factor: 2.129
Authors: Jairo Gooskens; Vishnu van der Ploeg; Ram N Sukhai; Ann C T M Vossen; Eric C J Claas; Aloys C M Kroes Journal: BMC Pediatr Date: 2014-12-10 Impact factor: 2.125