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Some factors increased severe outcome risk with influenza-like illness
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Certain risk factors may help clinicians identify children at risk of severe outcomes when sick with an influenza-like illness, according to recent study findings published in the British Medical Journal.
“To date, no reports have detailed which factors in children with influenza-like illness and A(pH1N1) infection at presentation to emergency departments are associated with a risk of progression to severe disease or death,” researchers wrote. “Such information would be highly relevant for informing emergency department and primary care clinicians regarding risk stratification, resource allocation, and clinical disposition in future pandemics.”
The multicenter, retrospective case-control study included 265 children younger than 16 years who fulfilled CDC criteria for influenza-like illness. All participants developed severe outcomes after being diagnosed with A(H1N1).
The researchers found that history of chronic lung disease (OR=10.3; 95% CI, 1.5-69.8), history of cerebral palsy/developmental delay (OR=10.2; 95% CI, 2.0-51.4), signs of chest retractions (OR=9.6; 95% CI, 3.2-29), signs of dehydrations (OR=8.8; 95% CI, 1.6-49.3), requirement for oxygen (OR=5.8; 95% CI, 2.0-16.2), and tachycardia relative to age were all associated with severe outcomes in children presenting with influenza-like illness.
“Our study has identified robust, generalizable, and independent risk factors that may alert clinicians to children at risk of severe outcomes when presenting with influenza-like illness during a pandemic,” researchers wrote. “Independent risk factors for severe outcomes included findings from premorbid history (chronic lung disease, cerebral palsy/developmental delay) and physiology/physical examination (requirement for oxygen, tachycardia relative to age, presence of chest retractions, signs of dehydration).”
Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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