Influenza in children: the German perspective

Abstract

Influenza is recognized as an important disease in infants and children, but epidemiologic data on influenza in children are limited. We analyzed German epidemiologic data from three sources: a population-based study in children 0 to 3 years of age [Paediatric Respiratory Infection in Germany (PRIDE) study]; a multicenter hospital-based survey of children 0 to 16 years of age (www.pid-ari.net); and a sentinel study (Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft Influenza) comparing influenza activity and numbers of consultations for respiratory infections in children and adults. In 1996 to 2001, the PID-ARI-net and the PRIDE studies showed that the rate of influenza-associated hospitalizations was approximately 120/100 000 children (0 to 5 and 0 to 3 years of age, respectively). Children born prematurely and those with underlying cardiac or pulmonary disease were at increased risk of hospitalization. The mean duration of hospital stay was 6.3 days, which is equal to the mean length of hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus infections in continental Europe. Few nosocomial infections were reported. The outpatient consultation rate per year for lower respiratory tract illness caused by influenza virus was 1.1/100 children. Direct and indirect epidemiologic evidence indicates that influenza is a significant health hazard for all children.