2015-2016 Influenza Season in an Irish Regional Paediatric Unit: Importance of Influenza Vaccination Highlighted

Dear Editor

Owing to a notable national increase in influenza activity during the ʼ15 – ʼ16 season, a retrospective review of paediatric influenza infection was conducted at University Hospital Galway (UHG), where all positive influenza swabs from children ≤14 years of age were identified via the UHG Microbiology Database for the same four-month period of the ʼ15 – ʼ16 and ʼ14 – ʼ15 ‘influenza seasons’. The ʼ15 – ʼ16 season start date was identified as the day the first positive ’flu swab was recorded; December 4th 2015; the last April 11th 2016. Comparing the ʼ14 – ʼ15 and ʼ15 – ʼ16 influenza seasons, a sizable increase in the number and severity of influenza cases was noted. A 350% increase from 28 to 98 confirmed cases with 13 (46%) of 28 cases admitted during ʼ14 – ʼ15 compared with 71 (72%) of 98 cases during the ʼ15 – ʼ16 season; 68% of children admitted during the ʼ15 – ʼ16 season were ≤5 years old. Unlike the ʼ14 – ʼ15 season (75% A), there was not a predominance of the A strain of influenza, 50/50 divide A and B strains. Severe complications developed in 5/71 (7%) hospitalised cases, including acute necrotizing encephalitis, invasive group A streptococcal infection, pleural effusion with pulmonary abscess formation and overwhelming sepsis.

These cases, combined with the death of one child (underlying global developmental delay), are evidence for the potential for severe influenza disease among the paediatric population. During the ʼ15 – ʼ16 season, 10.4% of the paediatric medical caseload was accounted for by influenza, 1.4% during the same period in ʼ14 – ʼ15 (P, < 0.0001, Fischer’s exact test). Clinically, among those admitted, the most common presenting complaints were fever (93%) and respiratory symptoms (88.7%) followed by gastrointestinal symptoms, headache and myositis; 40.8, 18.3 and 11.2% of patients respectively. The average length of stay was 2 days (range: 1 to 8 days); ostelemavir administered to 15 (21%) patients post admission, antibiotics to 27 (38%). Co-morbidity was present in 25 (35.2%) admitted cases; most commonly respiratory, neuromuscular, and cardiac disease. None of the children, including those deemed ‘at risk’ as per National Immunisation Advisory Committee recommendations1, admitted during the ʼ15 – ʼ16 season, had received the annual influenza vaccine. The UK recently introduced universal live attenuated annual influenza vaccination for all children aged two years and older. End of ʼ15 – ʼ16 season data provided reassurance for the UK to continue this programme; among 2-17 year-olds, adjusted vaccine efficacy was reportedly 57.6% against any influenza, 81.4% against influenza B and 41.5% against influenza A(H1N1)2. Similar data are reported from Finland, the only other EU country where universal paediatric annual influenza vaccination has been introduced3. A recent UK-based study showed a significant increase in influenza admissions and fatality rate among children aged 5-15 who were considered ‘at-risk’ due to co-morbidities, and concluded that more was needed to be done to protect ‘at-risk’ paediatric and adult groups from influenza-related morbidity and mortality4. This study echoes that recommendation highlighting the need to consider routine seasonal childhood influenza vaccination in Ireland.

G Ryan1, A Cleary1, D Keady2, N M. Allen1 E Moylett1

Academic Department of Paediatrics1, National University of Ireland, Galway
Department of Microbiology2, University Hospital Galway, Galway

Correspondence
Dr Edina Moylett, Academic Department of Paediatrics, NUI Galway
Email: [email protected] 

References   
1. HSE immunisation. Immunisation Guidelines. Chapter 11, Influenza. Available from: http://hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/chapter11.pdf
2. Pebody R, Warburton F, Ellis J, Andrews N, Potts A, Cottrell S, Johnston J, Reynolds A, Gunson R, Thompson C, Galiano M, Robertson C, Byford R, Gallagher N, Sinnathamby M, Yonova I, Pathirannehelage S, Donati M, Moore C, de Lusignan S, McMenamin J, Zambon M. Effectiveness of influenza vaccine for adults and children in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza in primary care in the United Kingdom: 2015/16 end-of-season results. Euro Surveill. 2016 Sep 22;21.
3. Nohynek H, Baum U, Syrjänen R, Ikonen N, Sundman J, Jokinen J. Effectiveness of the live attenuated and the inactivated influenza vaccine in two seasonal -year-olds – a nationwide cohort study Finland, influenza season 2015/16. Euro Surveill. 2016 Sep 22;21.
4. Sachedina N, Donaldson LJ. Paediatric mortality related to pandemic influenza A H1N1 infection in England: an observational population-based study. Lancet. 2010;376:1846-52

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