All issues > Volume 48(3); 2005

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2005;48(3):260-265. Published online March 15, 2005.

Retrospective Study for the Isolation of Influenza Virus and Prevalence Period in Busan from 2000 to 2002

Chang Hwan CH Oh¹, Byeong Hee BH Son¹, Ki Dae KD Kim¹, Jung A JA Lee¹, Sung Won SW Kim¹, Kyung Soon KS Cho²

¹Department of Pediatrics, St. Benedict Hospital, Busan, Korea
²Department of Pediatrics, Busan Institute of Health & Environment*, Busan, Korea

Correspondence Byeong Hee BH Son ,Email: pedson40@yahoo.co.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: During epidemics, influenza induces a high mortality and morbidity, and when influenza is prevalent, it is revealed by increased pneumonia, hospitalization due to influenza-like illness, and mortality in community. We aimed at the isolation of influenza virus and prevalence period in Busan from 2000 to 2002.
Methods
: For 3 years from 2000 to 2002, we analyzed the patterns of influenza virus, the occurrence distribution of influenza by age and sex and the prevalence period after cultivating the examined materials from throat smears and snivel, collected from patients in St. Benedict Hospital Pediatrics Department, from 10 monitoring hospitals, and from 16 public health centers.
Results
: For three years, a total of 209 strains of influenza virus were isolated. In 2000, there were A/sydney/05/97(H3N2)-like, A/Beijing/262/95(H1N1)-like and B/Harbin/07/94-like. In 2001, there were A/Panama/2007/99(H3N2)-like and A/Newcaledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like. In 2002, there were A/Panama/ 2007/99(H3N2)-like, A/Newcaledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like, B/Beijing/243/97, B/Honkong/22/2001 and B/ Sichuam/379/99. The occurrence distribution by sexes were 14 males and 25 females in 2000, 23 males and 33 females in 2001, 57 males and 57 females in 2002. As for the occurrence distribution by ages, 0-10 years made up 48.4 percent in 2000, 11-20 years 33.93 percent in 2001, and below 10 years was 64.91 percent in 2002. As for the occurrence distribution by month, the rate was once high in January and somewhat high in April and by June, when there happened to be various viruses, though there was a low rate in 2000. On the other hand, the virus was concentrated in February and March in 2001. And in 2002, it happened high twice, in March and November.
Conclusion
: Influenza virus revealed frequent antigenic changes and infect children, especially those below 10 years of age from late fall to early spring. So we should consider appropriate prevention in children.

Keywords :Influenza , Occurrence distribution