All issues > Volume 45(12); 2002

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2002;45(12):1519-1527. Published online December 15, 2002.

Clinical Analysis of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections by Influenza Virus in Children

Min Kyoung MK Kwon¹, Mi Ran MR Kim¹, Eun Young EY Park¹, Kon Hee KH Lee¹, Hae Sun HS Yoon¹, Kwang Nam KN Kim¹, Kyu Man KM Lee²

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Clinical Pathology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Kwang Nam KN Kim ,Email: rheumatol@hanmail.net

Abstract

Purpose
: Although influenza virus is one of the most important causes of acute respiratory tract infections(ARTIs) in children, virus isolation is not popular and there are only a few clinical studies on influenza in Korea. We evaluated the epidemiologic and clinical features of ARTIs by influenza virus in children.
Methods
: From February 1995 to August 2001, nasopharyngeal aspirations were obtained and cultured for the isolation of influenza virus in children admitted with ARTIs. The medical records of patients with influenza virus infection were reviewed retrospectively.
Results
: Respiratory viruses were isolated in 997(22.0%) out of 4,533 patients examined, and influenza virus was isolated in 164 cases(3.6%). Influenza virus was isolated year after year mainly from December to April of next year. The ratio of male and female was 1.9 : 1 with a median age of 15 months. The most common clinical diagnosis of influenza virus infection was pneumonia, and fever and cough developed in most patients. There was no difference between influenza A and B infection in clinical diagnoses and symptoms. All patients recovered without receiving antiviral treatment except for one patient diagnosed with pneumonia who had underlying disease of Down syndrome with ventricular septal defect.
Conclusion
: ARTIs caused by influenza virus developed every winter and spring during the period of study. Because fatal complication can develop in the high risk group, prevention, early diagnosis and proper management of influenza should be emphasized.

Keywords :Influenza virus, Acute respiratory tract infections, Children