A Clinical Characteristics and Courses of 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infections in Pediatric Hematology Oncology Patients

Abstract

Purpose: Recently, we have observed 2009 pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) virus infections in pediatric hematology oncology patients during the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic. The aim of this study is to estimate the clinical characteristics and courses of pediatric hematology oncology patients with 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in Ajou University Hospital.

Methods: We analysed age, sex, underlying disease, clinical characteristics and courses of the patients who were diagnosed as 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection from September 2009 to March 2010, reviewing their medical records.

Results: Among the 57 patients who were admitted in pediatric hematology oncology department with suspicious Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, 11 patients have been diagnosed as 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection by the method of real-time PCR. The underlying hematologic diseases consist of acute lymphoblastic leukemia 4, aplastic anemia 2, acute myelocytic leukemia 1, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma 1, immune thrombocytopenic purpura 2, congenital neutropenia 1, and Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis 1. The fever subsided within 48 hours of Tamiflu(R) (Roche, USA) administration in 10 patients, except for one patient whose fever subsided without Tamiflu(R) administration. Among the 11 hematology oncology patients who have been diagnosed as 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, 10 patients (90%) were improved without any complication.

Conclusion: When we reviewed the medical records of the 11 hematology-oncology patients who were diagnosed 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, it was observed that most of them recovered without complications after adminstration of Tamiflu(R), combined with antibiotics or G-CSF treatment.