Pediatric Flu - Elefight
Burden of Influenza
The burden of influenza on communities worldwide is uneven, because the annual disease epidemics vary considerably in severity.1
90 MILLION | Influenza cases among children <5 years each year
Of these, 20 million are associated with acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), one million of which are severe in nature.1
Between 28,000 and 111,500 children aged <5 years die each year as a result of acute LRTI associated with influenza, with 99% of deaths happen in developing countries.1
A total of 1103 children presented to the pediatric emergency department and outpatient clinic with influenza-like illness and had a swab sent for influenza A H1N1 PCR testing from July to December 2009.2
34%
influenza
A H1N1.2
13.3%
required hospitalization.2
3 years
The median age at admission.2
Children aged <5 years are especially vulnerable to influenza, particularly that caused by seasonal viruses, and vaccination in this group can be an effective strategy for reducing disease.1
CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone ages six months and older.3
- Ruf B, Knuf M. The burden of seasonal and pandemic influenza in infants and children. European Journal of Pediatrics. 2013;173(3):265-276.
- Al Subaie S, Al Saadi M. Features associated with severe disease in hospitalized children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection at a university hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Annals of Saudi Medicine. 2012;32(1):53-58.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2019. Flu (Influenza) and the Vaccine. [online] Available at: [Accessed 31 August 2021].
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