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. 2024 Sep 18;50(1):184.
doi: 10.1186/s13052-024-01742-6.

Clinical analysis of influenza in the neonatal intensive care unit

Canyang Jia  1 , Wanyu Jia  1 , Xiaowen Yi  1 , Shuqin Fu  1 , Yajie Cui  1 , Peng Li  1 , Chunlan Song  2
Affiliations

Clinical analysis of influenza in the neonatal intensive care unit

Canyang Jia et al. Ital J Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: The aim was to investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of neonatal influenza.

Methods: The clinical data of 21 neonates who were diagnosed with influenza and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Henan Provincial Children's Hospital, China, between January 2023 and January 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: A total of 21 patients were admitted, including 14 with influenza A and 7 with influenza B. Eighteen of these patients were reported to have been exposed to family members with respiratory symptoms before hospitalization. Among all the patients' mothers, only 1 received the influenza vaccine during pregnancy. Fifteen newborns had fever, 13 appetite loss, 10 cough, 9 shortness of breath, 9 nasal obstruction, 3 runny nose, 3 vomiting, 2 severe wheezing, 2 choking, 2 diarrhea, 1 bloating, and 1 sputum in the throat. The pulmonary auscultation sounds were coarse in 19 neonates, weak in 2, moist rales were appreciated in 5 and wheezing in 4 of them. The peripheral total white blood cell count was normal in 18 patients and elevated in 3. The C-reactive protein level was normal in all subjects, and the procalcitonin level was elevated in 1. Nineteen patients had pneumonia on chest imaging. All patients were treated with oseltamivir and finally recovered.

Conclusion: Influenza A is the most common type of neonatal influenza. The clinical symptoms are atypical, and fever is the main symptom. Treatment with oseltamivir is safe and effective, and the prognosis is mostly favorable.

Keywords: Influenza; Neonatal; Virus.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
General data of the neonates
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Classification of neonatal influenza symptoms (note that some patients had 2 or more symptoms at the same time)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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