tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
. 2024 Nov 14;73(45):1022-1029.
doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7345a2.
Underutilization of Influenza Antiviral Treatment Among Children and Adolescents at Higher Risk for Influenza-Associated Complications - United States, 2023-2024
Aaron M Frutos, Haris M Ahmad, Dawud Ujamaa, Alissa C O'Halloran, Janet A Englund, Eileen J Klein, Danielle M Zerr, Melanie Crossland, Holly Staten, Julie A Boom, Leila C Sahni, Natasha B Halasa, Laura S Stewart, Olla Hamdan, Tess Stopczynski, William Schaffner, H Keipp Talbot, Marian G Michaels, John V Williams, Melissa Sutton, M Andraya Hendrick, Mary A Staat, Elizabeth P Schlaudecker, Brenda L Tesini, Christina B Felsen, Geoffrey A Weinberg, Peter G Szilagyi, Bridget J Anderson, Jemma V Rowlands, Murtada Khalifa, Marc Martinez, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Jennifer E Schuster, Ruth Lynfield, Melissa McMahon, Sue Kim, Val Tellez Nunez, Patricia A Ryan, Maya L Monroe, Yun F Wang, Kyle P Openo, James Meek, Kimberly Yousey-Hindes, Nisha B Alden, Isaac Armistead, Suchitra Rao, Shua J Chai, Pam Daily Kirley, Ariana P Toepfer, Fatimah S Dawood, Heidi L Moline, Timothy M Uyeki, Sascha Ellington, Shikha Garg, Catherine H Bozio, Samantha M Olson
Annually, tens of thousands of U.S. children and adolescents are hospitalized with seasonal influenza virus infection. Both influenza vaccination and early initiation of antiviral treatment can reduce complications of influenza. Using data from two U.S. influenza surveillance networks for children and adolescents aged <18 years with medically attended, laboratory-confirmed influenza for whom antiviral treatment is recommended, the percentage who received treatment was calculated. Trends in antiviral treatment of children and adolescents hospitalized with influenza from the 2017-18 to the 2023-2024 influenza seasons were also examined. Since 2017-18, when 70%-86% of hospitalized children and adolescents with influenza received antiviral treatment, the proportion receiving treatment notably declined. Among children and adolescents with influenza during the 2023-24 season, 52%-59% of those hospitalized received antiviral treatment. During the 2023-24 season, 31% of those at higher risk for influenza complications seen in the outpatient setting in one network were prescribed antiviral treatment. These findings demonstrate that influenza antiviral treatment is underutilized among children and adolescents who could benefit from treatment. All hospitalized children and adolescents, and those at higher risk for influenza complications in the outpatient setting, should receive antiviral treatment as soon as possible for suspected or confirmed influenza.
. 2024 Nov 14;73(45):1022-1029.
doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7345a2.
Underutilization of Influenza Antiviral Treatment Among Children and Adolescents at Higher Risk for Influenza-Associated Complications - United States, 2023-2024
Aaron M Frutos, Haris M Ahmad, Dawud Ujamaa, Alissa C O'Halloran, Janet A Englund, Eileen J Klein, Danielle M Zerr, Melanie Crossland, Holly Staten, Julie A Boom, Leila C Sahni, Natasha B Halasa, Laura S Stewart, Olla Hamdan, Tess Stopczynski, William Schaffner, H Keipp Talbot, Marian G Michaels, John V Williams, Melissa Sutton, M Andraya Hendrick, Mary A Staat, Elizabeth P Schlaudecker, Brenda L Tesini, Christina B Felsen, Geoffrey A Weinberg, Peter G Szilagyi, Bridget J Anderson, Jemma V Rowlands, Murtada Khalifa, Marc Martinez, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Jennifer E Schuster, Ruth Lynfield, Melissa McMahon, Sue Kim, Val Tellez Nunez, Patricia A Ryan, Maya L Monroe, Yun F Wang, Kyle P Openo, James Meek, Kimberly Yousey-Hindes, Nisha B Alden, Isaac Armistead, Suchitra Rao, Shua J Chai, Pam Daily Kirley, Ariana P Toepfer, Fatimah S Dawood, Heidi L Moline, Timothy M Uyeki, Sascha Ellington, Shikha Garg, Catherine H Bozio, Samantha M Olson
- PMID: 39541236
- DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7345a2
Annually, tens of thousands of U.S. children and adolescents are hospitalized with seasonal influenza virus infection. Both influenza vaccination and early initiation of antiviral treatment can reduce complications of influenza. Using data from two U.S. influenza surveillance networks for children and adolescents aged <18 years with medically attended, laboratory-confirmed influenza for whom antiviral treatment is recommended, the percentage who received treatment was calculated. Trends in antiviral treatment of children and adolescents hospitalized with influenza from the 2017-18 to the 2023-2024 influenza seasons were also examined. Since 2017-18, when 70%-86% of hospitalized children and adolescents with influenza received antiviral treatment, the proportion receiving treatment notably declined. Among children and adolescents with influenza during the 2023-24 season, 52%-59% of those hospitalized received antiviral treatment. During the 2023-24 season, 31% of those at higher risk for influenza complications seen in the outpatient setting in one network were prescribed antiviral treatment. These findings demonstrate that influenza antiviral treatment is underutilized among children and adolescents who could benefit from treatment. All hospitalized children and adolescents, and those at higher risk for influenza complications in the outpatient setting, should receive antiviral treatment as soon as possible for suspected or confirmed influenza.