#4704
Childhood asthma has already been linked to a greater risk of complications from pandemic influenza, but today we’ve research that concludes that asthma increases the risk of developing influenza-related pneumonia even from seasonal flu.
The study appears in the July issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal and is called:
Influenza-Associated Pneumonia in Children Hospitalized With Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza, 2003-2008
Dawood, Fatimah S.; Fiore, Anthony; Kamimoto, Laurie; Nowell, Mackenzie; Reingold, Arthur; Gershman, Ken; Meek, James; Hadler, James; Arnold, Kathryn E.; Ryan, Patricia; Lynfield, Ruth; Morin, Craig; Baumbach, Joan; Zansky, Shelley; Bennett, Nancy M.; Thomas, Ann; Schaffner, William; Kirschke, David; Finelli, Lyn; for the Emerging Infections Program (EIP) Network
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 29(7):585-590, July 2010.
doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e3181d411c5
Abstract (Excerpts)
Results: Overall, 2992 hospitalized children with influenza with a chest radiograph were identified; 1072 (36%) had influenza-associated pneumonia.
When compared with children hospitalized with influenza without pneumonia, hospitalized children with influenza-associated pneumonia were more likely to require intensive care unit admission (21% vs. 11%, P < 0.01), develop respiratory failure (11% versus 3%, P < 0.01), and die (0.9% vs. 0.3% P = 0.01). In multivariate analysis, age 6 to 23 months (adjusted OR: 2.1, CI: 1.6–2.8), age 2 to 4 years (adjusted OR: 1.7, CI: 1.3–2.2), and asthma (adjusted OR: 1.4, CI: 1.1–1.8) were significantly associated with influenza-associated pneumonia.
Conclusions: Hospitalized children with influenza-associated pneumonia were more likely to have a severe clinical course than other hospitalized children with influenza, and children aged 6 months to 4 years and those with asthma were more likely to have influenza-associated pneumonia . . . .
Since this study is behind a pay wall, those without a subscription may wish to read additional details in the press release (which I’ve excerpted) below.
Asthma Is Key Risk Factor for Pneumonia in Children with Influenza
Released: 7/7/2010 9:00 AM EDT
Younger Children Are Also at Higher Risk
Newswise — Children with asthma are at increased risk of developing pneumonia as a complication of influenza, reports a study in the July issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals, and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, and pharmacy.
Infants and children less than five years old are also at higher risk of developing pneumonia while hospitalized for influenza, according to the new study, led by Dr Fatimah S. Dawood of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Findings May Help in Targeting Children at Highest Risk<SNIP>
The new study finds that asthma is a risk factor for pneumonia in children hospitalized for influenza. This is especially important since children with asthma are more likely to develop influenza in the first place. In the study, asthma was the most common pre-existing condition, present in nearly one-fourth of children.
The results also show that children with pneumonia have a more severe clinical course, including higher rates of mechanical ventilation and death. The authors note that most of the children in the study did not receive antiviral medications such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu), which can improve influenza outcomes if given early enough.
Dr. Dawood and co-authors also point out that less than half of children in the study had received yearly influenza vaccinations, which are recommended for most children over six months old. The researchers hope their results "will help to identify children who might benefit most from early antiviral treatment and inform the development of prevention strategies that target children at risk for severe influenza complications."
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