tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Infect Chemother
. 2025 Sep 11.
doi: 10.3947/ic.2025.0069. Online ahead of print. Clinical Burden of Pediatric Influenza A and B in Malaysia: Outcomes and Resource Utilization in A Tropical Setting
Vishnu Arvindran Chandra Mohan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Chuin-Hen Liew[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Kah Kee Tan[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Naveen Nair Gangadaran[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Pon Ling Lau[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Syaniza Shaharudin[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yasothai Chandran[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Asuwani Maran[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Farah Nuruliayana A Nazri[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hui Yi Lim[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Xiang Lin Cheng[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Muhammad Ihsan Roslan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Joanne Pereira[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nur Ainaa Najwa Razali[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Marlindawati Mohd Ali[SUP] 1 [/SUP], David Chun-Ern Ng[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Influenza is a leading cause of pediatric respiratory illness globally, yet comparative data on influenza A and B in tropical regions remain scarce. This study aimed to compare clinical features, healthcare utilization, and outcomes in children hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza A and B.
Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of children aged ≤12 years hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza at a tertiary referral centre from May 2022 to December 2023. Influenza diagnosis was established using antigen-based detection via direct fluorescent antibody testing. Demographics, clinical features, laboratory results, interventions received, and patient outcomes were analyzed.
Results: Among 177 hospitalized children, 116 (65.5%) had influenza A and 61 (34.5%) had influenza B. Seizures were significantly more common in influenza A (27.6% vs. 3.3%, P <0.001). Influenza B was associated with higher rates of diarrhea (31.1% vs. 14.7%, P=0.010) and signs of respiratory distress (tachypnea: 42.6% vs. 26.7%, P=0.031; chest recessions: 41.0% vs. 25.0%, P=0.028; adventitious breath sounds: 45.9% vs. 29.3%, P=0.028). Children with influenza B more frequently required non-invasive ventilation (13.1% vs. 3.4%, P=0.015), and intravenous fluids (70.5% vs. 55.2%, P=0.048). Median hospital stay was longer in influenza B (3 vs. 2 days, P=0.008).
Conclusion: Influenza A was more frequently associated with neurologic manifestations, whereas influenza B showed a higher prevalence of lower respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms and required greater supportive care. These findings highlight the distinct clinical profiles of influenza A and B and their implications for healthcare resource utilization.
Keywords: Clinical manifestations; Influenza burden; Influenza vaccination; Pediatric influenza; Victoria lineage.
. 2025 Sep 11.
doi: 10.3947/ic.2025.0069. Online ahead of print. Clinical Burden of Pediatric Influenza A and B in Malaysia: Outcomes and Resource Utilization in A Tropical Setting
Vishnu Arvindran Chandra Mohan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Chuin-Hen Liew[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Kah Kee Tan[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Naveen Nair Gangadaran[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Pon Ling Lau[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Syaniza Shaharudin[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yasothai Chandran[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Asuwani Maran[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Farah Nuruliayana A Nazri[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hui Yi Lim[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Xiang Lin Cheng[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Muhammad Ihsan Roslan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Joanne Pereira[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nur Ainaa Najwa Razali[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Marlindawati Mohd Ali[SUP] 1 [/SUP], David Chun-Ern Ng[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 40958484
- DOI: 10.3947/ic.2025.0069
Background: Influenza is a leading cause of pediatric respiratory illness globally, yet comparative data on influenza A and B in tropical regions remain scarce. This study aimed to compare clinical features, healthcare utilization, and outcomes in children hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza A and B.
Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of children aged ≤12 years hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza at a tertiary referral centre from May 2022 to December 2023. Influenza diagnosis was established using antigen-based detection via direct fluorescent antibody testing. Demographics, clinical features, laboratory results, interventions received, and patient outcomes were analyzed.
Results: Among 177 hospitalized children, 116 (65.5%) had influenza A and 61 (34.5%) had influenza B. Seizures were significantly more common in influenza A (27.6% vs. 3.3%, P <0.001). Influenza B was associated with higher rates of diarrhea (31.1% vs. 14.7%, P=0.010) and signs of respiratory distress (tachypnea: 42.6% vs. 26.7%, P=0.031; chest recessions: 41.0% vs. 25.0%, P=0.028; adventitious breath sounds: 45.9% vs. 29.3%, P=0.028). Children with influenza B more frequently required non-invasive ventilation (13.1% vs. 3.4%, P=0.015), and intravenous fluids (70.5% vs. 55.2%, P=0.048). Median hospital stay was longer in influenza B (3 vs. 2 days, P=0.008).
Conclusion: Influenza A was more frequently associated with neurologic manifestations, whereas influenza B showed a higher prevalence of lower respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms and required greater supportive care. These findings highlight the distinct clinical profiles of influenza A and B and their implications for healthcare resource utilization.
Keywords: Clinical manifestations; Influenza burden; Influenza vaccination; Pediatric influenza; Victoria lineage.