Retrospective Evaluation of Children with Influenza Infection

zObjective: This study aimed to review the general characteristics of influenza and evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with influenza hospitalized in our unit.Methods: This is a retrospective, descriptive study.Between 01.01.2017 and 01.07.2020; 124 patients hospitalized with flu-like illness symptoms and found to have influenza virus in the respiratory viral panel were included in the study. Results:The mean age of the patients was 4.853.94years, of which 27 (21.8%)were less than 2 years old, 42 (33.9%)were between 2 and 5 years old, and 55 (44.4%) were older than the 5-year-old age group.Although many patients were at high risk of influenza, only 3 (2.4%) were vaccinated.The most common complaints at presentation were fever (n=121, 97.6%) and cough (n=109, 87.9%).Respiratory distress was more common in patients <2 years compared with the other age groups (p=0.046;p=0.002).Underweight and overweight/obese patients required more intensive care admissions than normal weight patients (p=0.003 and p=0.001, respectively).Of all patients, 116 (93.5%) recovered without sequelae, 4 (3.2%)died. Conclusion:Although influenza infection is an important problem in terms of morbidity and mortality among children with respiratory tract infections, our vaccination rates are not sufficient even in high-risk groups.Influenza is a significant and serious disease, especially in children <2 years.Obese and malnourished patients may require more frequent intensive care admissions.