- NEW YORK (Reuters Health)
- Since this year's flu season began in October, 93 children have died
from influenza-related causes in the US, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention reported on Thursday.
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- The children ranged from 4 weeks to 17 years of age and
just over half of the patients were female, the Atlanta-based agency notes
in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for January 9. Although 35
of the children had chronic medical conditions, 41 seemed to be completely
healthy before contracting influenza.
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- Thus far, most of the deaths occurred in December, followed
by November and October, the report indicates.
-
- Of the 45 children with a documented vaccination status,
only one child had evidence of adequate vaccination against the flu, the
CDC states. A few were partially vaccinated, but most of the children were
not vaccinated.
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- Twenty-five children were reported as having pneumonia
and 15 children were found to have co-existing bacterial infections.
-
- Infection with influenza virus was confirmed in all cases
through various tests conducted before or after death, lead author Dr.
I Shui and colleagues note.
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- "Because laboratory-confirmed influenza illnesses
and deaths among children are not nationally reportable conditions, the
number of deaths reported this season cannot be compared directly with
previous influenza seasons, and the proportion of illnesses associated
with death cannot be estimated," the CDC notes.
-
- To better characterize the impact of the disease on children,
the CDC is asking health professionals to report any suspected flu-related
deaths to them through state and local health departments.
-
- SOURCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, January
9, 2004.
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