[Influenza in children--an epidemiological problem].

Influenza is an acute viral disease which mainly affects the respiratory tract and occurs in all age groups with yearly epidemics during the cold season. It is a frequent and occasionally severe disease in children, particularly in young infants and school age children with a high rate of complications (mainly secondary bacterial infections) which frequently require hospitalization. Children are usually the first victims of the yearly epidemics and effectively distribute the virus in the community and their families. These specific characteristics warrant discussions about modifications of the current immunization strategy in countries like Switzerland, where high risk individuals are the primary immunization targets. An universal influenza immunization strategy would be reasonable from an individual as well as epidemiological point of view. However, the need for repeated yearly vaccination as well as suboptimal acceptance of influenza immunization amongst physicians and the public are significant hurdles, which would need to be overcome.