[Clinical characteristics and management of children hospitalized for influenza in four epidemic seasons (2002-2006)]. / Características clínicas y actuaciones en los niños ingresados por gripe en cuatro períodos epidémicos gripales (2002-2006).

INTRODUCTION: Influenza is frequent during childhood, affecting approximately 30-40 % of children. OBJECTIVES: To identify the most frequent causes of hospitalization in children admitted to hospital for influenza, as well as the main symptoms and clinical diagnoses at discharge, and to relate these factors with the type of influenza virus and patients' age. A further aim was to evaluate the use of the diagnostic and therapeutic methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective descriptive study through a review of the medical records of children admitted to the Miguel Servet Children's Hospital in Zaragoza (Spain) for influenza in four epidemic seasons (2002-2006). RESULTS: A total of 178 influenza cases were found, 132 due to influenza A and 46 due to influenza B. Hospital admission was mainly due to fever without focus, especially in infants aged less than 6 months, followed by convulsions and shortness of breath. The main symptoms were fever, cough, rhinitis, and vomiting. The latter was especially frequent in children older than 3 years and in patients with influenza B virus. The main discharge diagnoses were upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngitis-tonsillitis, and otitis. Diagnosis of bronchitis was more frequent in children aged less than 2 years old. Chest X-ray was performed in 80% of the patients and lung consolidation was found in 10.5%. Antibiotic therapy was administered in 59% of the patients, mainly amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. CONCLUSIONS: The causes of admission for influenza and clinical presentation of this infection vary widely, sometimes depending on age and the type of influenza virus.

Características clínicas y actuaciones en los niños ingresados por gripe en cuatro períodos epidémicos gripales (2002-2006) / Clinical characteristics and management of children hospitalized for influenza in four epidemic seasons (2002-2006)

La gripe es un proceso muy frecuente en la infancia que afecta al 30-40 % de los niños. Objetivos Entre los niños ingresados por virus de la gripe, determinar las causas más frecuentes de hospitalización, los síntomas principales y el diagnóstico clínico al alta relacionados con la edad y el tipo de virus de la gripe, así como valorar el uso de métodos diagnósticos y terapéuticos. Material y métodos Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo obtenido mediante la revisión de historias clínicas de niños hospitalizados con diagnóstico de gripe en el Hospital Infantil Miguel Servet de Zaragoza durante cuatro períodos epidémicos anuales (2002-2006). Resultados Se observaron 178 casos de gripe, de los que 132 correspondieron al virus de la gripe A y 46 al B. El principal motivo de ingreso en el hospital fue fiebre sin foco, sobre todo en menores de 6 meses, seguido por convulsión febril y dificultad respiratoria. La sintomatología predominante fue fiebre, tos y rinitis, y vómitos en mayores de 3 años, especialmente en los casos de gripe B. Los diagnósticos principales al alta fueron infección respiratoria de vías altas, faringoamigdalitis y otitis. El diagnóstico de bronquitis/bronquiolitis fue más frecuente en los pacientes menores de 2 años. Se realizó radiografía de tórax en el 80 %, con condensación neumónica en el 10,5 % y se administró antibioterapia en el 59 % de los pacientes, principalmente amoxicilina- ácido clavulánico. Conclusiones Existe una gran variación en las causas de ingreso y presentación clínica de la gripe, en algunos casos determinado por la edad y el tipo de virus gripal

Introduction Influenza is frequent during childhood, affecting approximately 30-40 % of children. Objectives To identify the most frequent causes of hospitalization in children admitted to hospital for influenza, as well as the main symptoms and clinical diagnoses at discharge, and to relate these factors with the type of influenza virus and patients’ age. A further aim was to evaluate the use of the diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Material and methods We performed a retrospective descriptive study through a review of the medical records of children admitted to the Miguel Servet Children’s Hospital in Zaragoza (Spain) for influenza in four epidemic seasons (2002-2006). Results A total of 178 influenza cases were found, 132 due to influenza A and 46 due to influenza B. Hospital admission was mainly due to fever without focus, especially in infants aged less than 6 months, followed by convulsions and shortness of breath. The main symptoms were fever, cough, rhinitis, and vomiting. The latter was especially frequent in children older than 3 years and in patients with influenza B virus. The main discharge diagnoses were upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngitis-tonsillitis, and otitis. Diagnosis of bronchitis was more frequent in children aged less than 2 years old. Chest X-ray was performed in 80 % of the patients and lung consolidation was found in 10.5 %. Antibiotic therapy was administered in 59 % of the patients, mainly amoxicillin- clavulanic acid. Conclusions The causes of admission for influenza and clinical presentation of this infection vary widely, sometimes depending on age and the type of influenza virus