Influenza in children: reducing the death rate

A recent article and accompanying commentary in the journal Pediatrics describe what we currently know about children who have died from influenza over the past decade or more. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has collected information about this since the 2003-2004 influenza season. In that first report, there were 153 deaths. Since then there have been at least 100 influenza deaths annually among children. Several characteristics have not changed. About half of the deaths occur in children who were otherwise normal; that is, they had no underlying chronic condition that would predispose them to having more severe cases. Although the median age was six years, mortality was highest among the youngest children — those younger than six months. Most of the children who died, over 70 percent, had not been vaccinated against influenza. This is not a completely surprising finding since influenza vaccine is recommended for children six months or older. However, an important way to transmit the benefit of at least some immunity to infants and very young children is to vaccinate pregnant women since some protective antibody crosses over from mother to infant and lasts for several months at least. Currently, only about a third of pregnant women are vaccinated. Influenza is a stubborn and wily virus, traits that make designing a highly effective vaccine challenging. Its natural reservoir is several species of birds. It has three main subtypes, with the most serious dise...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Conditions Infectious Disease Pediatrics Source Type: blogs