Reasonable Rascal
10-30-09, 23:24
INFLUENZA PANDEMIC (H1N1) 2009 (79): RESPONSES IN CHILDREN
************************************************** ********
A ProMED-mail post
Date: Thu 29 Oct 2009
Soure: Pediatric SuperSite [edited]
<http://www.pediatricsupersite.com/view.aspx?rid=50117>
Younger children with influenza A (H1N1) may have longer viral shedding than older children and adults
-------------------------
Influenza A (H1N1) virus was detected by real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] in patients up to 13 days after onset of fever, according to results presented at the 47th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The results were presented by Achuyt Bhattarai, MD, an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The researchers conducted a telephone survey to identify elementary school students or household contacts of elementary school students with influenza-like illness onset within 7 days of the survey. The study was conducted in May - June 2009 in Pennsylvania. Among 36 specimens from students or contacts with influenza-like illness, 26 were identified as having influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection by real-time RT-PCR tests. Specimens were also tested by viral culture for the presence of H1N1 virus. Further analysis by real-time PCR determined that the median duration of viral shedding was 6 days (range 1-13 days) after the onset of fever. Further
analysis by culture determined that the median duration that viable H1N1 was detected was 5 days (range 1-7 days) after the onset of fever. Real-time PCR detected virus for a median of 3 days following the resolution of fever. Virus was detected by culture an average of 2 days after the resolution of fever.
"In our study, younger children were observed to have prolonged viral shedding, as compared to older children and adults, which is consistent with earlier studies of seasonal influenza," Bhattarai said. "However, I would like to emphasize that the results of our study should be interpreted carefully, because detection of virus may not mean that patients are likely to transmit the virus to others.
"This was one of the 1st studies to determine the duration of viral shedding during the current pandemic and one of the 1st among children," Bhattarai said.
--
Communicated by:
ProMD-mail
[These are important findings in terms both of epidemiology and patient care that deserve further examination on a wider range of patients. - Mod.CP]
************************************************** ********
A ProMED-mail post
Date: Thu 29 Oct 2009
Soure: Pediatric SuperSite [edited]
<http://www.pediatricsupersite.com/view.aspx?rid=50117>
Younger children with influenza A (H1N1) may have longer viral shedding than older children and adults
-------------------------
Influenza A (H1N1) virus was detected by real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] in patients up to 13 days after onset of fever, according to results presented at the 47th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The results were presented by Achuyt Bhattarai, MD, an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The researchers conducted a telephone survey to identify elementary school students or household contacts of elementary school students with influenza-like illness onset within 7 days of the survey. The study was conducted in May - June 2009 in Pennsylvania. Among 36 specimens from students or contacts with influenza-like illness, 26 were identified as having influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection by real-time RT-PCR tests. Specimens were also tested by viral culture for the presence of H1N1 virus. Further analysis by real-time PCR determined that the median duration of viral shedding was 6 days (range 1-13 days) after the onset of fever. Further
analysis by culture determined that the median duration that viable H1N1 was detected was 5 days (range 1-7 days) after the onset of fever. Real-time PCR detected virus for a median of 3 days following the resolution of fever. Virus was detected by culture an average of 2 days after the resolution of fever.
"In our study, younger children were observed to have prolonged viral shedding, as compared to older children and adults, which is consistent with earlier studies of seasonal influenza," Bhattarai said. "However, I would like to emphasize that the results of our study should be interpreted carefully, because detection of virus may not mean that patients are likely to transmit the virus to others.
"This was one of the 1st studies to determine the duration of viral shedding during the current pandemic and one of the 1st among children," Bhattarai said.
--
Communicated by:
ProMD-mail
[These are important findings in terms both of epidemiology and patient care that deserve further examination on a wider range of patients. - Mod.CP]