@article{3114348,
    title = "Impact of influenza infection in healthy children examined as
outpatients and their families",
    author = "Tsolia, M. N. and Logotheti, I. and Papadopoulos, N. G. and Mavrikou, M. and and Spyridis, N. P. and Drossatou, P. and Kafetzis, D. and and Konstantopoulos, A. and Outpatient Flu Study Grp",
    journal = "Vaccine",
    year = "2006",
    volume = "24",
    number = "33-34",
    pages = "5970-5976",
    publisher = "Elsevier Sci Ltd, Exeter, United Kingdom",
    issn = "0264-410X",
    doi = "10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.05.006",
    keywords = "influenza; children; outpatients; community",
    abstract = "Decisions regarding the introduction of influenza immunization in
healthy children require an accurate evaluation of influenza disease
burden not only in the inpatient but also in the outpatient setting. We
prospectively examined the impact of virologically confirmed influenza
in 1462 outpatient children (> 6 months to < 14 years) and their
families, during two consecutive influenza seasons. Influenza was
documented in 573/1462 (39%) outpatients with febrile respiratory
illness and accounted for 13.5% of all outpatient visits during the 14
weeks of each season. Acute otitis media (AOM) was the most common
complication (18.5%) and about 40% of influenza positive patients
received antibiotics. AOM and antibiotic use were more common in
children younger than 5 years of age who accounted for 58% of all
patients. For each child sick with influenza a mean of 1.34 workdays
were lost by the parents. Family members of influenza positive children
were more likely to develop a secondary respiratory illness and to
require medical visits and antibiotic prescriptions. Influenza is
associated with a heavy morbidity burden in the community that may be
reduced considerably with the implementation of immunization in children
younger than 5 years of age. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved."
}