Socio-economic impact of influenza in children: a single-centered hospital study in Shanghai / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To monitor the epidemic pattern of influenza in children during the 2011-2012 season in Shanghai and to evaluate the socioeconomic burden of influenza in children.Methods We carried out a prospective surveillance program on influenza among children who visiting the outpatient clinic for influenza-like illness (ILI) between June 2011 and May 2012.Respiratory samples as well as related demographic and clinical data were obtained from the enrolled cases.Socio-economic burden was evaluated using the questionnaires for some of the confirmed cases during the outbreak.Results Out of the 1 119 enrolled cases,influenza viruses were virologically confirmed,using the RT-PCR in 370 (33.1％) otherwise healthy children.Among them,109 (9.7％) were positive for influenza A/H3N2 viruses,and 279 (24.9％) were positive for influenza B viruses.The 2011-2012 seasonal outbreak of influenza among children with Shanghai residency started with the major outbreak of influenza B during December 2011-Feburary 2012,followed by the smaller outbreak of influenza A/H3N2 during March-April,2012.A total of 69 influenza A/H3N2-infected cases and 163 influenza B-infected cases were surveyed to evaluate the influenza-associated disease burden.The average costs per case were 706.10 Yuan and the average indirect costs per case incurred by the work loss of family members were 293.80 Yuan,with the total average costs per case were 999.90 Yuan.Mean visits to medical settings were 2.7,with antibiotics used in 67.2％ of the cases.Secondary household cases were seen in 21.1％ of the cases.Pneumonia was diagnosed in 5.6％ of the cases.The burden of disease increased from both influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B but without significant differences between them.Conclusion Influenza A/H3N2 and influenza B viruses caused outbreaks of influenza in children with Shanghai residency during the 2011-2012 season.Socioeconomic burden of influenza in children showed significantly direct impact on the sick children and an indirect impact on their families.Influenza vaccination should be recommended in children to reduce the disease burden.