Mahantesh S1, Manasa S.2
1Dr. Mahantesh.S, Associate Professor, 2Dr. Manasa.S, Scientist B, both authors are affiliated with Department of Microbiology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Address for correspondence: Dr. Manasa. S, Scientist B, Department of Microbiology, Indhira Ghandhi Institute of Child Health, Bangalore, Email: manasabharadwaj86@gmail.com
Abstract
Objectives: Influenza viruses continue to be a major health threat in both endemic and pandemic forms. The rapid, continuous, and unpredictable nature of influenza viral evolution makes vaccine strategies and pandemic planning difficult .In elderly, infants and in people with chronic diseases, influenza is associated with high mortality. As there are very limited studies relating to Influenza A H1N1 and its epidemiology in the pediatric population, this study was done to study the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients found positive for Influenza A H1N1 in pediatric population in a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study done over a period of 6 months from January 2017 to June 2017. The study population included all the suspected patients tested for Influenza A H1N1 by real-time RT-PCR. Results: Total of 89 patients were tested for Influenza A H1N1 out of which 31(34.8%) were positive. The most common symptoms were fever (87.6%), cough (49.77%), sore throat (27%) and breathlessness (23.9%). Maximum cases were detected in the 0-5 years age group in that 19(61.2%) were positive, followed by 15-18 yrs in which 23(25.8%) were tested in which 9(29.03%) were positive. Influenza A H1N1 resulted in death of 3(3.3%) of the total admitted suspected H1N1 cases in our hospital. Conclusion: On the basis of these findings, it can be concluded that prevalence of Influenza A H1N1 is high in children with the age group of 0-5yrs. The age shift of severe influenza A (H1N1) towards younger children may be explained by increasing immunity in the older pediatric population.
Key words: Incidence; Influenza A; H1N1
Manuscript received: 20th July 2017, Reviewed: 30th July 2017
Author Corrected: 7th August 2017, Accepted for Publication: 14th August 2017
Introduction
Influenza viruses are among the most common causes of human respiratory infections [1] and among the most significant because they cause high morbidity and mortality. Influenza virus is a new virus which came up in late April 2009 in Kerala and probably originated in the pig farms in Mexico [1-4]. Hence, it was called swine flu. Inside the pigs a genetic reassortment occurred to the usual influenza viruses resulting in the new H1N1 virus. The virus was introduced to human beings and thereafter spread from man to man. H1N1 pandemic had its significantly great impact in India from April 2009 to August 2010 [2-5].
Influenza is an acute respiratory disease characterized in its full form by the sudden onset of high fever, coryza, cough, headache, prostration, malaise, and inflammation of the upper respiratory tree and trachea. In most cases, pneumonic involvement is not clinically prominent. Acute symptoms and fever often persist for 7 to 10 days [6]. In the elderly, in infants, and in people with chronic diseases, influenza is associated with especially high mortality. As there are very limited studies relating to Influenza A H1N1 and its epidemiology in the pediatric population, this study was done to study the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients found positive for Influenza A H1N1 in pediatric population in a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore.
Materials and Methods
Source of Data: This is a retrospective study done over a period of 6months from January 2017 to June 2017. The study will be conducted in the department of Microbiology, Indhiraghandhi institute of child health. The study population included all the suspected pediatric patients tested for Influenza A H1N1.
Inclusion criteria: All the suspected pediatric patients having H1N1 below 18ys were included in the study
Exclusion Criteria: Patients above 18yrs were excluded, and also patients positive for HIV and HBsAg
Methodology: Because of viral shedding patterns, The following specimen was collected as soon as possible after illness onset: nasopharyngeal swab, nasal aspirate or a combined nasopharyngeal swab with oropharyngeal swab. If these specimens cannot be collected, a nasal swab or oropharyngeal swab is acceptable. For patients who are intubated, an endotracheal aspirate was collected. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and sputum specimens were also accepted. Specimens was placed into sterile viral transport media (VTM) and immediately placed on ice or cold packs or at 4°C (refrigerator) for transport to the laboratory. Recommended infection control guidelines was followed for persons collecting clinical specimens in clinics and other clinical settings. Swab specimens was collected using swabs with a synthetic tip and a plastic shaft. The swab specimen collection vials contained 1-3ml of viral transport medium (containing, protein stabilizer, antibiotics to discourage bacterial and fungal growth, and buffer solution). All respiratory specimens was kept at 4°C for no longer than 4 days. Clinical specimens was shipped on wet ice or cold packs in appropriate packaging to the NIMHANS. A Real-time RT-PCR was done in NIMHANS Currently, novel influenza A (H1N1) virus will test positive for influenza A and negative for H1 and H3 by real-time RT-PCR. If reactivity of real-time RT-PCR for influenza A is strong (e.g. Ct <30) it is more suggestive of a novel influenza A (H1N1) virus.
Results
The results were collected from NIMHANS and the data was compiled. A total of 89patients were tested for Influenza A H1N1 by real-time RT-PCR, out of which31 (34.8%) were positive. In the total of 89 suspected patients, 38 (42.6%) were males in which 8(25.8%) were positives and 51(57.3%) were female children in which 13(41.9%) were positives.
Fig-1: Distribution of positive and negative patients based on sex of the patients
Table-1: Distribution of the patients based on their age
|
Age
group |
Total
suspected cases |
Positives |
Negatives |
|
0-5yrs |
42(47.1%) |
19(45.2%) |
23(54.7%) |
|
5-10yrs |
18(20.2%) |
2(11.1%) |
16(88.8%) |
|
10-15yrs |
6(6.7%) |
1(16.6%) |
5(83.3%) |
|
15-18yrs |
23(25.8%) |
9(39.1%) |
14(60.8%) |
The total number of suspected H1N1 cases who were tested were maximum in the age group of 0-5yrs i.e 42(47.1%) followed by 15-18yrs, which had 23(25.8%) suspected patients with 9(39.1%) positive cases. The highest number of positive cases were also in the age group, 0-5yrs i.e 19(45.2%).
The patients presented with many symptoms. The most common symptoms were fever (89.8%), cough (59.7%), sore throat (37%) and breathlessness (20.9%).
Fig-2: Distribution of symptoms with which the patient presented
Maximum cases were detected in the month April than any other month during this season. Influenza A H1N1 resulted in death of 3 (3.3%) of the admitted cases, of which all the deaths occurred within 48 h of admission.
Discussion
Influenza is the one of the most significant acute upper respiratory tract infections. Influenza viruses cause a broad array of respiratory illnesses responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in children. Influenza viruses cause epidemic disease (influenza virus types A and B) and sporadic disease (type C) in humans.
The word influenza may have been derived from the Latin word influo, which means "to flow in," indicating airborne transmission, or from the Italian word influence, which indicates influence of weather or an astrological influence.
In addition to humans, influenza also infects a variety of animal species. Some of these influenza strains are species specific, but new strains of influenza may spread from other animal species to humans. The term avian influenza used in this context refers to zoonotic human infection with an influenza strain that primarily affects birds [2,3].
Swine influenza refers to infections from strains derived from pigs. Influenza viruses are negative-sense, single-strand RNA viruses that belong to the family Orthomyxoviridae. Human influenza viruses are divided into 3 major types: A, B, and C.
Influenza type A viruses cause disease in humans and many animal species. Waterfowl (eg, ducks, geese) are the natural reservoir for type A. In addition, in freshwater lakes, influenza A virus can stay alive for 4 days at 22o C and for more than a month at 0o C.
Influenza type B viruses primarily cause disease in humans, particularly children. Infections with influenza type C viruses are rare [4,5].
Influenza viral RNA has 8 genetic elements. The RNA has a lipid envelope with 2 major antigenic components on its surface, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). These components enable the replication and subsequent release of the virus, leading to its spread. Influenza type A viruses also have ionic channel proteins, termed M2 proteins.
The H antigen is the major virulence determinant because these antigens help viral attachment to the cell. H proteins are divided into 16 types, whereas N proteins are divided into 9 types. N act on the sialic acid component of the cell, which enables viral detachment.
Different subtypes of influenza viruses are identified based on the combinations of these antigenic structures, with 144 combinations possible. For example, influenza A subtype H3N2 expresses hemagglutinin 3 and neuraminidase 2. Influenza A subtype H5N1, or avian influenza, has been found in chickens, ducks, and migratory fowl throughout Asia and is now spreading west through Europe and North Africa. It is highly virulent in humans but is poorly transmissible between humans [6].
Influenza and parainfluenza viruses (PIVs) are among the most common respiratory pathogens that affect infants and children worldwide. Infections and their complications are responsible for a significant number of hospitalizations and fatalities on a yearly basis. In most temperate climate countries, seasonal patterns of disease are observed. In warmer climates, disease can be observed year round. The fear of an influenza pandemic looms when new strains are discovered. Recognition and prevention become pressing priorities. In recent years, a greater emphasis in preventing influenza through vaccination has emerged. Many health care systems have mandatory vaccinations programs for health care professionals. In addition, vaccination is now recommended for all persons 6 months or older. Available antiviral agents are effective not only as therapy but also as preventive agents Influenza is one of the most common vaccine-preventable viral diseases, with the highest morbidity reported for children and elderly patients [7, 8]. Influenza infections during childhood usually present as mild respiratory upper airway disease, but severe complications and fatalities also occur, especially in children less than 2 years of age and in children with underlying chronic conditions [8–13]. However, 40–50 % of influenza-associated fatalities occur in previously healthy children [10,14].
In our study a total of 89patients were tested for Influenza A H1N1 by real-time RT-PCR, out of which31 (34.8%) were positive. In the total of 89 suspected patients, 38 (42.6%) were males in which 8(25.8%) were positives and 51(57.3%) were female children in which 13 (41.9%) were positives. The age group which was affected more was 0-5yrs this is in concordance with a study done in turkey in which A total of 821 children with 2009 pandemic H1N1 were hospitalized. The majority of admitted children (56.9%) were younger than 5 y of age [15].
The signs and symptoms of influenza caused by pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus are similar to those of seasonal influenza, although gastrointestinal manifestations appear to be more common with pandemic H1N1 influenza. Vomiting and diarrhoea have been reported more often with 2009 H1N1 influenza than with seasonal influenza [16]. Dawood et al mentioned that 25% of their patients had diarrhoea, and 25% had vomiting [17]. In another study, diarrhoea or vomiting was reported in 39% of patients, including 42% of children (i.e., patients under the age of 18 years) and 37% of adults (those ≥18 years) [18].The patients presented with many symptoms. The most common symptoms were fever (89.8%), cough (59.7%), sore throat (37%) and breathlessness (20.9%). None of our patients had diarrhoea, but about half of them complained from vomiting.
Several severe clinical syndromes associated with influenza A 2009 H1N1 infection may be seen. Other unusual presentations of influenza A [H1N1] virus were conjunctivitis, earache, hematemesis, epistaxis, croup, apnoea, acute abdomen, altered mental state [19,20].
A high index of suspicion, prompt treatment and mechanical ventilation had a role in reducing the mortality
Two classes of antiviral agents are available for influenza: adamantanes (amantadine, rimantadine) and neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir, zanamivir). Adamantanes are M2 ion channel inhibitors. Because of resistance among influenza A viruses, use of adamantanes has not been recommended since the 2005-2006 influenza season.
Neuraminidase inhibitors inhibit the release of virus and its spread. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is commonly used for treatment and prophylaxis of influenza types A and B and is effective in treating avian influenza. Oseltamivir resistance has been rarely reported in pandemic H1N1 influenza virus and avian influenza A/H5N1 virus [21].
Conclusion
The major cause of death was viral bronchopneumonia and ARDS. A high index of suspicion, prompt treatment with Oseltamivir and mechanical ventilation had a role in reducing the mortality. The age shift of severe infection of Influenza A (H1N1) towards younger children may be explained by increasing immunity in the older pediatric population. The high incidence in pediatric population compile implementation of the current influenza vaccination.
Funding: Nil, Conflict of interest: None initiated.
Permission from IRB: Yes
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How to cite this article?
Mahantesh S, Manasa S. Incidence of H1N1 in pediatric population in a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore. Trop J Path Micro 2017;3(3):266-271.doi: 10.17511/jopm.2017.i3.06.