Seasonal Influenza Remains a Significant Healthcare Burden in Children

Seasonal influenza remains a major reason why parents seek medical care for their children. Since 2004, the CDC has continued to expand influenza vaccination recommendations to include more healthy children, culminating with a 2008 recommendation for universal vaccination for all children aged 6 months and older. Researchers prospectively examined the burden of influenza in children younger than 5 years in three U.S. counties from 2004 through 2009 (before the 2009 influenza A [H1N1] pandemic). Children with fever, acute respiratory symptoms, or both were enrolled during five influenza seasons (November to April). After enrollment, parents completed questionnaires, nasal swabs were collected, and medical records were reviewed.

After appropri…