Influenza-Related Hospitalizations among Children in Hong Kong

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 347; no. 26; pp. 2097 - 2103
• Main Authors: Chiu, Susan S, Lau, Yu Lung, Chan, Kwok H, Wong, Wilfred Hing Sang, Peiris, J.S. Malik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 26.12.2002
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Analysis. Health state; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Epidemiology; Female; General aspects; Hong Kong - epidemiology; Hospitalization; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Infant; Influenza; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Male; Medical sciences; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology; Retrospective Studies; Hong Kong; Asia; China; Hong Kong China; Human; Infection; Viral disease; Influenza; Rate; Hospitalization; Child; Epidemiology; Public health; Incidence
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa020546

In Hong Kong, the seasons for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection sometimes do not overlap, so that a relatively accurate estimate can be made of the effects of influenza-related acute respiratory disease in children. Using data from a well-defined population, these researchers found high rates of hospitalization attributable to influenza in children: 278.5 per 10,000 children younger than one year of age and 218.4 per 10,000 children one to less than two years of age in 1998. The researchers found high rates of hospitalization attributable to influenza in children. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China is situated within the hypothetical epicenter of influenza pandemics and serves as a sentinel post for the region. 1 , 2 Although the influenza A H5N1 virus epidemic in 1997 received much attention, the usual annual epidemics of influenza are generally believed to be clinically insignificant in Hong Kong as well as other tropical and subtropical regions. 3 – 7 The importance of defining the disease burden associated with influenza has been recognized. 8 During epidemics in temperate regions, influenza affects 30 to 40 percent of children. 9 , 10 Although the effect of influenza on children with underlying . . .