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H1N1-associated pneumonia linked to severe respiratory symptoms
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BOSTON — Children with severe 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1)-associated pneumonia were very likely to receive about 3 days of oxygen supplementary and were admitted for a median of 6 days, according to data presented here at the 50th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
Researchers in Japan followed 128 H1N1 patients in five hospitals between August 2009 and February 2010.
The median age of patients was 6 years, and 36.7% of these patients had asthma, the researchers noted in a poster. The mean time from onset to hospital admission was 2.7 days. Data indicated that 67.2% of children required oxygen supplementation for a mean duration of 3.4 days, and the median hospital stay was 6 days. All children recovered.
Lymphopenia and high serum concentrations of immunoglobulin E occurred in patients admitted between 1 and 3 days of illness.
About 16% of patients had pleural effusion, pneumomediastinum, atelectasis or plastic bronchitis. The researchers reported significantly higher rates of respiratory distress, inspiratory retraction and low percutaneous oxygen saturation in children with complications. Chest radiographs also most commonly showed localized infiltrates in the right lower lung field.
The researchers said rapid diagnosis of disease may have led to expedited antiviral treatment in these children, and quick access to hospitals may have increased the chances for favorable outcomes among pediatric patients with severe disease. – by Melissa Foster
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