Περίληψη:
Influenza is the most important cause of acute respiratory illness
leading to hospitalization among children during community epidemics.
This illness can cause extensive nosocomial outbreaks with serious
morbidity and mortality among specific groups of children. Paediatric
patients with community-acquired influenza and healthcare workers are
the main reservoir for the nosocomial spread of the virus. During
epidemics in the community, testing for influenza should be requested in
all children with compatible symptoms admitted in the hospital, and
measures should be introduced for the prevention or early control of an
outbreak. Recent advances in the management of influenza include rapid
diagnoses based on antigen detection and the identification of the new
neuraminidase inhibitors zanamivir and oseltamivir. Annual vaccination
against influenza of children with high-risk conditions, their family
members and healthcare workers is the principle measure for the
prevention of nosocomial outbreaks. Although vaccination against
influenza appears to be cost-effective at all ages in terms of
prevention of illness, related hospitalizations, deaths, reduction of
healthcare costs and productivity loss, vaccination coverage among
target groups is limited. (C) 2003 The Hospital Infection Society.
Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
