Pediatric Influenza Cases

[indigo girl]

Seasonal Flu Starting Early in Hawaii

http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news/14055325/detail.html

(hat tip PFI/tweet]

HONOLULU -- Three months before the usual flu season, Hawaii health officials said they have recorded their first cluster of flu cases at a school.

http://www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?S=7032598

The Hawaii State Department of Health is investigating a cluster of influenza illnesses reported from a small private school on Oahu.

Testing made by the State Lab has identified influenza A as the cause of illness among two students at the school, one in first grade, another in kindergarten. A third child, who is a younger sibling of a student at the school, was also found to be positive for the infection.

[AusNurse2B]

We have recently experienced quite a few pead. Influenza A deaths over here. It has been the worst in many years apparently.

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

Were any of these kids checked for pertussis as well?

[indigo girl]

We have recently experienced quite a few pead. Influenza A deaths over here. It has been the worst in many years apparently.

http://www.curevents.com/vb/showpost.php?p=790392&postcount=2

OFF-SEASON FLU

The August outbreak was unusual because it happened in what typically is considered the flu's off-season.

"Hawai'i always sees cases sporadically throughout the year," Effler said, "but this is a fairly early outbreak. The majority of cases typically happen in December through March."

He is particularly concerned about the flu this year because Australia has seen three times as many cases as normal, including the deaths of six children.

"It could be another indicator that we're in for a heavy flu season here," he said. "We're wondering if that might be our fate coming up."

Pediatricians, other doctors and private caregivers are also reporting sporadic cases in the Islands, he said.

Dr. Marian Melish, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Hawai'i's medical school and chief of infection disease service and the infection control department at Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children, said the typical October-through-May flu season has been sprinkled with cases throughout this year.

"We also have been seeing some very severe cases of influenza, particularly in July, when the heaviest period for influenza is the fall and winter months," Melish said.

Two children were put on ventilators in Kapi'olani's intensive care unit this summer. Others have been treated in the emergency room for symptoms that included high fevers, respiratory symptoms, vomiting and diarrhea.

Melish yesterday did not have data on the number of influenza cases but said, "We didn't see the tapering off as much at Kapi'olani that we tend to see. Through May, June and July, we had considerable numbers of influenza but not as heavy as the winter months."

People are getting sick before pharmaceutical companies on the Mainland have sent their full supplies of vaccine to Hawai'i, which typically arrive in September and October, Effler said.

[indigo girl]

FDA Okays Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine for Younger Kids

(hat tip fluwiki)

http://www.medpagetoday.com/ProductAlert/DevicesandVaccines/dh/6736

The FDA has expanded the indications for FluMist, a nasal influenza vaccine, to include children ages two to five.

The aerosolized vaccine, which contains a weakened form of the live virus, had already been approved for use in patients ages five to 49.

The FDA did not extend approval of the drug for children under the age of two because clinical trials showed an increased risk of hospitalization and wheezing for children in that age group.

But extension of the indications to pre-schoolers offers "a needle-free option for squeamish toddlers, who may be reluctant to get a traditional influenza shot," said Jesse L. Goodman, M.D., M.P.H., director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

FluMist now joins two other flu vaccines approved for pre-school children. Fluzone is approved for those six months and older and Fluvirin is approved for children four and older.