Background: Influenza A and B viruses were cocirculating in Australia in th
e winter of 1997. Objective: To compare the clinical and demographic featur
es of children with influenza A or influenza B virus infection admitted to
a paediatric tertiary referral centre.
Methodology: Retrospective chart review of 91 hospitalized children with cu
lture-proven influenza A or B virus infection during 1997.
Results: Thirty-six (56%) of 64 children with influenza A were under 12 mon
ths of age compared with seven (26%) of 27 children with influenza B virus
infection (P = 0.02). Influenza B virus infection was more common in childr
en with underlying medical problems (P = 0.01). Neurological manifestations
were present in eight (12.5%) of 64 children with influenza A and none wit
h influenza B virus infection (P = 0.09). There were no significant differe
nces in signs and symptoms of children with influenza A and B virus infecti
on, in severity of illness or in duration of hospital stay.
Conclusions: A greater proportion of children admitted with influenza A vir
us infection were under 12 months of age. Influenza B virus infection is as
sociated more commonly with underlying medical disorders. It is not possibl
e to differentiate between influenza A or B virus infection from presenting
clinical signs and symptoms.