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Turk Arch Pediatr
. 2025 Dec 30;61(3):214-222.
doi: 10.5152/TurkArchPediatr.2025.25307.
Burden, Risk Factors, and Clinical Outcomes of Pediatric Influenza in a Population with Extremely Low Vaccine Coverage
Kubra Aykac 1 , Hacer Yakin 1 , Eylul Dogan Ickin 2 , Gozde Uluisik 2 , Osman Oguz Demir 2 , Mustafa Genceli 3 , Ozge Metin Akcan 3 , Neslihan Mete Atasever 4 , Ayper Somer 4 , Eda Sahin Izci 5 , Nazan Dalgic 5 , Esra Cakmak Taskin 6 , Fatma Dilsad Aksoy 7 , Esra Ciftci 7 , Solmaz Celebi 7 , Mustafa Hacimustafaoglu 7 , Saliha Kanik-Yuksek 8 , Aslinur Ozkaya-Parlakay 8 , Seval Ozen 8 , Hatice Kubra Konca 8 , Pinar Bayraktar 8 , Nihan Coskun 8 , Sevgi Kus 9 , Ahu Kara Aksay 9 , Didem Büyüktas Aytac 10 , Gulsen Akkoc 10 , Sevliya Ocal Demir 10 , Canan Ozlu 11 , Serap Kilic Kaya 12 , Esra Disci 12 , Sare Ilbay 13 , Latife Guder 13 , Gulsum Alkan 14 , Busra Ozyalvac 14 , Melike Emiroglu 14 , Dicle Sener Okur 15 , Aysenur Bostan 16 , Gizem Mardinoglu 16 , Omer Kilic 16 , Ayse Hitay Telefon 17 , Merve Kilic Cil 17 , Perihan Essizoglu 17 , Umit Celik 17 , Gulben Ozgul Postuk 18 , Zeynep Gokce Gayretli Aydin 18 , Gulizar Toy Usta 19 , Kıvanc Celikkalkan 19 , Hatice Karaoglu Asrak 20 , Murat Bicen 21 , Muhammet Asena 21 , Gulhadiye Avcu 22 , Coskun Ekemen 22 , Ayse Cakil Guzin 23 , Eda Karadag Oncel 23 , Semra Bayturan Sen 24 , Hatice Sinav Utku 25 , Selim Oncel 25 , Merve Iseri Nepesov 26 , Ozlem Erdede 27 , Pelin Kacar 28 , Mustafa Gulderen 28 , Arife Ozer 28 , Onder Kilicaslan 29 , Adem Karbuz 29 , Ozlem Cakici 30 , Ezgi Avci 31 , Belma Yasar 32 , Zuhal Umit 32 , Nurettin Erdem 33 , Sahika Sahinkaya 33 , Elif Gudeloglu Cetiz 34 , Muhammed Selcuk Sinanoglu 35 , Derya İlhan 36 , Soner Sertan Kara 36 , Yildiz Ekemen Keles 37 , Elif Kiymet 37 , Nahida Gokay 38 , Edanur Yesil 38 , Necdet Kuyucu 38 , Burcu Ceylan Cura Yayla 39 , Hanife Avcı 40 , Ali Bulent Cengiz 1 , Yasemin Ozsurekci 1
Affiliations
Objective: Influenza is a contagious viral respiratory tract infection that causes severe illness, particularly in high-risk populations such as young children and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. The study aims to identify clinical characteristics and key risk factors associated with respiratory support and mortality in children with influenza infection.
Materials and methods: This retrospective, multicenter study was conducted across 33 hospitals from 19 cities in Türkiye. Data from pediatric inpatients aged <18 years diagnosed with influenza between October 2023 and May 2024 were analyzed.
Results: Among 1032 hospitalized children infected with influenza, 394 (38.2%) required respiratory support. The respiratory support group was significantly younger, with a mean age of 3.40 ± 4.37 years, compared to 4.96 ± 4.36 years in the non-respiratory support group (P < .001). The frequency of any underlying disease was significantly higher in the respiratory support group (P < .001). Notably, conditions such as neurometabolic disorders (20.3% vs. 9.6%) and pulmonary diseases (7.1% vs. 2.8%) were more common in this group. Influenza A infection and viral coinfections, particularly with respiratory syncytial virus, increased the likelihood of mechanical ventilation and mortality. The mortality proportion of all patients with influenza infection was 1.3% and the influenza vaccine coverage was only 1.1%.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the urgent need to incorporate influenza vaccination into the national immunization program, especially for high-risk pediatric populations.
Keywords: Hospitalization respiratory support; Türkiye; influenza; mechanical ventilation; vaccination coverage.
. 2025 Dec 30;61(3):214-222.
doi: 10.5152/TurkArchPediatr.2025.25307.
Burden, Risk Factors, and Clinical Outcomes of Pediatric Influenza in a Population with Extremely Low Vaccine Coverage
Kubra Aykac 1 , Hacer Yakin 1 , Eylul Dogan Ickin 2 , Gozde Uluisik 2 , Osman Oguz Demir 2 , Mustafa Genceli 3 , Ozge Metin Akcan 3 , Neslihan Mete Atasever 4 , Ayper Somer 4 , Eda Sahin Izci 5 , Nazan Dalgic 5 , Esra Cakmak Taskin 6 , Fatma Dilsad Aksoy 7 , Esra Ciftci 7 , Solmaz Celebi 7 , Mustafa Hacimustafaoglu 7 , Saliha Kanik-Yuksek 8 , Aslinur Ozkaya-Parlakay 8 , Seval Ozen 8 , Hatice Kubra Konca 8 , Pinar Bayraktar 8 , Nihan Coskun 8 , Sevgi Kus 9 , Ahu Kara Aksay 9 , Didem Büyüktas Aytac 10 , Gulsen Akkoc 10 , Sevliya Ocal Demir 10 , Canan Ozlu 11 , Serap Kilic Kaya 12 , Esra Disci 12 , Sare Ilbay 13 , Latife Guder 13 , Gulsum Alkan 14 , Busra Ozyalvac 14 , Melike Emiroglu 14 , Dicle Sener Okur 15 , Aysenur Bostan 16 , Gizem Mardinoglu 16 , Omer Kilic 16 , Ayse Hitay Telefon 17 , Merve Kilic Cil 17 , Perihan Essizoglu 17 , Umit Celik 17 , Gulben Ozgul Postuk 18 , Zeynep Gokce Gayretli Aydin 18 , Gulizar Toy Usta 19 , Kıvanc Celikkalkan 19 , Hatice Karaoglu Asrak 20 , Murat Bicen 21 , Muhammet Asena 21 , Gulhadiye Avcu 22 , Coskun Ekemen 22 , Ayse Cakil Guzin 23 , Eda Karadag Oncel 23 , Semra Bayturan Sen 24 , Hatice Sinav Utku 25 , Selim Oncel 25 , Merve Iseri Nepesov 26 , Ozlem Erdede 27 , Pelin Kacar 28 , Mustafa Gulderen 28 , Arife Ozer 28 , Onder Kilicaslan 29 , Adem Karbuz 29 , Ozlem Cakici 30 , Ezgi Avci 31 , Belma Yasar 32 , Zuhal Umit 32 , Nurettin Erdem 33 , Sahika Sahinkaya 33 , Elif Gudeloglu Cetiz 34 , Muhammed Selcuk Sinanoglu 35 , Derya İlhan 36 , Soner Sertan Kara 36 , Yildiz Ekemen Keles 37 , Elif Kiymet 37 , Nahida Gokay 38 , Edanur Yesil 38 , Necdet Kuyucu 38 , Burcu Ceylan Cura Yayla 39 , Hanife Avcı 40 , Ali Bulent Cengiz 1 , Yasemin Ozsurekci 1
Affiliations
- PMID: 42044444
- DOI: 10.5152/TurkArchPediatr.2025.25307
Objective: Influenza is a contagious viral respiratory tract infection that causes severe illness, particularly in high-risk populations such as young children and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. The study aims to identify clinical characteristics and key risk factors associated with respiratory support and mortality in children with influenza infection.
Materials and methods: This retrospective, multicenter study was conducted across 33 hospitals from 19 cities in Türkiye. Data from pediatric inpatients aged <18 years diagnosed with influenza between October 2023 and May 2024 were analyzed.
Results: Among 1032 hospitalized children infected with influenza, 394 (38.2%) required respiratory support. The respiratory support group was significantly younger, with a mean age of 3.40 ± 4.37 years, compared to 4.96 ± 4.36 years in the non-respiratory support group (P < .001). The frequency of any underlying disease was significantly higher in the respiratory support group (P < .001). Notably, conditions such as neurometabolic disorders (20.3% vs. 9.6%) and pulmonary diseases (7.1% vs. 2.8%) were more common in this group. Influenza A infection and viral coinfections, particularly with respiratory syncytial virus, increased the likelihood of mechanical ventilation and mortality. The mortality proportion of all patients with influenza infection was 1.3% and the influenza vaccine coverage was only 1.1%.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the urgent need to incorporate influenza vaccination into the national immunization program, especially for high-risk pediatric populations.
Keywords: Hospitalization respiratory support; Türkiye; influenza; mechanical ventilation; vaccination coverage.