Abstract
Background: An emerge of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 has
devastated the global community. Pediatric population is among the groups with
high attack rate.
Objective: To study the clinical presentation of pediatric
patients (0-15 years old) infected with influenza H1N1 2009 and to evaluate the
sensitivity and specificity of the rapid influenza test.
Material and Method: Retrospective data was collected from the
medical reports of patients presenting with influenza like illness (ILI) whose
samples from nasal swab were tested for H1N1 using reverse transcription
polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) during June-September 2009 at the Thammasat
University Hospital.
Results: Of 68 patients, 26 were confirmed to have H1N1
2009 strain. Of these, 61.5% were older than 5 years old; 26.9% had underlying
conditions and 38.4% had hospitalization. All 26 patients presented with fever
and cough; 73% had coryza;
57.6% had sore throat; and 88.4%
had injected throat. Six patients (23%) had pneumonia. Patients younger than 5
years old experienced dyspnea and had abnormal results of a chest radiograph
significantly more often than patients older than 5. Patients with H1N1 2009
strain were more likely to have sore throat, myalgia, and injected throat than
non H1N1 2009 group. However, chest wall retraction and abnormal chest
radiograph were found significantly less often in the H1N1 group compared to
the non-H1N1. No death case was reported.
The rapid influenza test was found to have sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 64%, positive predictive value of 74.5%, and negative predictive value of 84.3% when compared to RT-PCR method.
Conclusion: During pandemic period, older children with influenza
like illness had novel H1N1 2009 infection more than younger children. The
majority of pediatric patients presented with mild symptoms. Patients aged
below 5 years more frequently experienced pneumonia. The rapid influenza test
showed a high sensitivity but low specificity.
Keywords: Pandemic H1N1 2009, Influenza, Pediatric
Keywords: Pandemic H1N1 2009, Influenza, Pediatric
Full Text: PDF (Free registration required)
Authors: Narumon Bumpenkiatigul,
Auchara Tangsathapornpong, Paskorn Sritipsukho
Journal of the Medical
Association of Thailand, Vol 95, No 1
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