The burden of hospital-attended influenza in Norwegian children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Norwegian health authorities do not recommend universal pediatric vaccination against seasonal influenza. We aimed to estimate the incidence of influenza by age and underlying medical conditions in hospitalized Norwegian children aged <18 years.

Methods

Active surveillance for influenza in children <18 years was implemented in five hospitals during 2015-18. Children with respiratory symptoms and/or fever were prospectively enrolled and tested for influenza. Surveillance data were linked to health registry data to estimate the national burden of influenza in hospitals.

Results

In 309 (10%) out of 3,010 hospital contacts, the child tested positive for influenza, corresponding to an average incidence of 0.96 hospital-attended influenza cases per 1,000 children

SUBMITTER: Boas H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9491848 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature