Distinction between rhinovirus-induced acute asthma and asthma-augmented influenza infection.

Background: Rhinovirus (RV) is an established trigger of asthma attacks, whereas such a link is less consistent for influenza virus (IFV).

Objective: In the context of precision medicine, we hypothesized that IFV infection may cause a condition essentially different from RV, and we investigated this by evaluating clinical characteristics of RV/IFV-positive and -negative children with respiratory symptoms and/or fever.

Methods: One thousand two hundred and seven children, 6 months to 13 years old, hospitalized for flu-like illness were recruited in this cross-sectional study.

Impact of influenza infection on children's hospital admissions during two seasons in Athens, Greece.

A prospective epidemiologic surveillance of hospitalizations associated with influenza was conducted in order to calculate population-based hospitalization rates. Eligible children were 6 months to 13 years of age and were admitted to one of the two large children's hospitals in the Athens area during two influenza seasons. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested for influenza by a polymerase reaction assay.

Performance of rapid influenza testing in hospitalized children.

Influenza infection is associated with high hospitalization rates among young children. Rapid diagnosis of influenza infection is particularly useful in order to prevent nosocomial infection and allows for the timely initiation of antiviral treatment. We evaluated the performance of a rapid influenza test in hospitalized children during the influenza season.