Influenza Patients (influenza + patient)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Influenza A in Young Children with Suspected Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 12 2003
Marla J. Friedman DO
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of influenza A in young children suspected of having respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and to compare the clinical presentation of these patients with those who have proven RSV infection. Methods: Children younger than or at 36 months of age who presented to a pediatric emergency department (ED) with suspected RSV infection during the influenza A season of 2001,2002 were eligible. Eligible children had an RSV antigen test ordered as part of their initial clinical management. A consecutive sample of children was enrolled for prospective observational analysis. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of influenza A in young children with suspected RSV infection. The secondary outcome measure was a comparison of the clinical presentations, of the two groups. Results: During the study period, 420 patients presented for evaluation of respiratory illness. RSV tests were ordered on 251 patients. Of 197 eligible patients, 124 (63%) tested positive for RSV and 33 (17%) for influenza A. Influenza A patients were more likely to have temperatures at or above 39°C than RSV patients (36% vs. 15%; p = 0.01). RSV patients were more tachypneic (54 vs. 43 breaths/minute; p < 0.0001) and more often had wheezing (90% vs. 8%; p < 0.0001). Twenty influenza patients (61%) were hospitalized. Conclusions: This study found a high prevalence of influenza A in young children suspected of having RSV infection. Clinicians should consider influenza A in young febrile children presenting with respiratory illnesses. [source]


Association of angiotensin-I converting enzyme DD genotype with influenza pneumonia in the elderly

GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2002
Miyuki Onishi
Background: Although angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) is known to associate with cough reflex and inflammatory conditions, and both may participate in influenza pneumonia in the elderly, no study has been carried out on the association between influenza pneumonia and the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the ACE gene (ACE). Methods: The subjects were 934 elderly inpatients (mean ± SD age of 82 ± 8 years) in a long-term care hospital. The association between ACE I/D and the incidence of influenza-pneumonia events was assessed over a winter season. Data were analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis, with adjustment for age, gender, already known clinical risk factors, and ACE-inhibitor use. Results: During the follow-up period, 330 patients developed influenza (Directigen FLU-A) and 89 developed influenza pneumonia (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria with chest X-ray required), 16 fatal and 73 non-fatal. Compared to non-influenza subjects (n = 604) and influenza patients without pneumonia (n = 241), ACE DD genotype (vs ID + II) resulted in a significant risk for all pneumonia (relative risk 2.32 [95% CI: 1.30,4.14] and 2.76 [1.39,4.04]), non-fatal pneumonia (1.91 [1.01,3.63] and 2.57 [1.23,5.39]) and fatal pneumonia (6.27 [1.68,23.3] and 5.15 [1.29,20.5]). Conclusion:ACE I/D polymorphism is a strong and independent risk indicator of influenza pneumonia events in elderly inpatients. [source]


Influenza-associated hospitalization in urban Thai children

INFLUENZA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES, Issue 5-6 2007
Piyarat Suntarattiwong
Background, Studies in North America and Europe have shown that young children are at increased risk of serious complications and hospitalization from influenza infection. In Thailand, however, influenza is commonly considered a mild infection that rarely requires hospitalization. An improved understanding of the burden of serious complications from influenza infection in young children is needed to inform clinical treatment and vaccination guidelines. Methods, We conducted a prospective study of children 0,5 years of age with lower respiratory tract infection or influenza-like illness admitted to a pediatric tertiary-care hospital in Bangkok, Thailand during July 2004 to July 2005. All respiratory specimens were tested for influenza using a rapid antigen test and tissue cell culture. Results, Thirty-nine of 456 (8.6%) hospitalized children had culture-positive influenza. Eighty percent of hospitalized influenza patients had no underlying chronic illnesses. Nineteen (49%) influenza patients required hospital stays of 5 days or more and two patients required mechanical ventilation. Influenza activity demonstrated bimodal seasonal variation with peak activity from August to October and January to April. Cough was present in 38 (97%) cases and fever >38.5°C was significantly associated with influenza. Conclusion, Influenza is an important cause of hospitalization in children <5 years of age in Thailand. Children <5 years should be considered as a target group when establishing clinical guidelines for antiviral treatment and influenza vaccination. [source]


Differences in clinical features between influenza A H1N1, A H3N2, and B in adult patients

RESPIROLOGY, Issue 2 2003
Masahide KAJI
Objective: The differences in clinical features between influenza A H1N1, A H3N2, and B in the past three influenza seasons were examined. Methodology: Patients with respiratory symptoms who consulted Kurume University Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan, from January to March in 1999, 2000, and 2001 were included. Based on virological and serological findings, the influenza patients were divided into the above three groups for comparison of symptoms and laboratory data. Results: Patients (n = 196) included 54 with influenza A H1N1, 98 with A H3N2, and 44 with B. Mean ages in the groups were 33 ± 8.4 years, 41 ± 15.2 years, and 29 ± 9.8 years (influenza B patients tended to be younger). Fever was much greater in the A H3N2 group (38.6 ± 0.46°C) than in the A H1N1 or B groups. This was also true for laboratory indices of viral infection. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, epigastralgia, and diarrhoea were prominent in influenza B. Myalgia was common in all groups. Conclusions: Influenza A H3N2 infection was more severe than A H1N1 or B in terms of fever, leukopenia, and C-reactive protein. Myalgia and other symptoms such as fever, headache, general malaise and sore throat were equally frequent in influenza A H3N2, A H1N1, and B infections. Gastrointestinal symptoms were more common in influenza B. [source]