Peculiarities clinical course of influenza in children and modern opportunities for specific prophylactics

Abstract

Annotation. Timely detection of influenza cases and modern opportunities for prevention of the disease are becoming important in the season of increasing the incidence of respiratory diseases in a pandemic COVID-19.The aim was to study the clinical and laboratory features of influenza in children in the season 2021/2022, who were hospitalized in the departments of Vinnytsia City Hospital “Mother and Child Center” since December 2021 till February 2022, as well as to analyze the current possibilities of specific prevention of the disease. 30 children were examined to clarify the clinical course of influenza. To diagnose influenza A and B, children underwent a smear of the nasal mucosa. Immunochromatographic method was used, namely cito-test of LLC "Pharmaco - Ukraine". To rule out coronavirus infection, a rapid antigen test for the coronavirus "SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test" was performed. An analysis of prophylactic vaccination cards №063/o was performed to study the coverage of influenza vaccination. It was found that preschool children predominated (17 people – 56.7%), while school-age children accounted for 43.3%. A quarter of children (26.6%) sought medical help on the first day of illness, half (56.6%) - on the second day and the rest (16.6%) – on the third day. The children with flu mostly complained of chills, headache, loss of appetite, aches in the joints and muscles, most children suffered from high body temperature, which lasted up to 3±0.8 days. The average temperature figures were 39.52±0.58ºC. Catarrhal phenomena were present in the biggest part of children (86.7%). It was revealed a clear lung sound and vesicular breath sound in a physical examination. There were no significant changes in the blood count in 70% of children. Children were prescribed special and symptomatic therapy. No one of the hospitalized children received specific influenza prophylaxis according to the prophylactic vaccination cards №063/o, although vaccination remains the best way to protect against influenza and is of great importance, especially in a pandemic COVID-19. Inactivated tetravalent vaccines present in Ukraine provide reliable protection against influenza and are completely safe.