Clinical and Laboratory Findings of Viral Influenza among Children Hospitalized in Qazvin Pediatric Hospital in Iran (2015-2020)

Abstract

Background: Children are one of the most important groups at risk of catching an influenza infection. The consequences of influenza in some children, especially children with chronic and underlying diseases, can be very severe and lead to hospitalization.

Objective: The purpose of this research was to determine children with influenza and their clinical and laboratory findings in Qazvin Children's Hospital between 2015 to 2020 years.

Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, epidemiological and clinical findings of children hospitalized due to confirmed influenza were considered. A total of 1468 children with a suspected diagnosis of influenza were included in this study. Then, based on the Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a total of 229 were confirmed positive for influenza. Statistical analysis was done using software SPSS 23.0, Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA), and t-test (p≤0.05).

Results: The results showed that most of the patients (53.7 %) were infected with influenza H1N1 type. Most comorbidities were observed with Central Nervous System (CNS) disease and febrile seizure (each one 3.10 %). The highest clinical feature was fever (83.4 %). Significant relationship was observed between the season (p=0.001), soreness in throat (p=0.001), febrile seizure (p=0.051), muscle and joint pain (p=0.059), rhinorrhea (p=0.006) and shiver (p=0.051), and occurrence of influenza. Also, 4 children had died from influenza during hospitalization.

Conclusion: Children with influenza were examined in this study. Influenza has some side effects on children's health. Due to the irreversible and dangerous effects of influenza, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment in children is important.

Keywords: Characteristics; PCR; children; influenza; outcome; pediatric hospital.