sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
AN ISSUE BRIEF BY TRUST FOR AMERICA’S HEALTH AND THE
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS"....It is difficult to predict the impact of a future
influenza pandemic on children, although
children are known to suffer a significant burden
from seasonal flu. Statistics regarding children
in past pandemics are elusive, although
children certainly became sick and died. In
the 1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic, healthy
young adults were the hardest hit, rather than
the usual high-risk groups (i.e., young infants
and the elderly) seen with the seasonal flu.
More recently, children have been disproportionately
affected by the avian flu virus that is
circulating in Asia and elsewhere.affected by the avian flu virus that is
The American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) and Trust for America’s Health
(TFAH) recommend specific actions to
ensure that the health and welfare of the
nation’s children are protected in the event
of an influenza pandemic.
(AAP) and Trust for America’s Health
(TFAH) recommend specific actions to
ensure that the health and welfare of the
nation’s children are protected in the event
of an influenza pandemic.
This issue brief examines strategic
approaches for containing the spread of a
pandemic in children and adolescents,
which include limiting social interaction,
developing potential medical interventions
such as vaccines and anti-viral medication,
the use of masks and respirators, and educating
children, families, and communities
on what to do and how to do it...."approaches for containing the spread of a
pandemic in children and adolescents,
which include limiting social interaction,
developing potential medical interventions
such as vaccines and anti-viral medication,
the use of masks and respirators, and educating
children, families, and communities
http://www.aap.org/new/KidsPandemicFlufnl.pdf