Kubra AYKAC, Hacer YAKIN, Eylul DOGAN ICKIN, Gozde ULUISIK, Osman Oguz DEMIR, Mustafa GENCELI, Ozge Metin AKCAN, Neslihan Mete ATASEVER, Ayper SOMER, Eda Sahin IZCI, Nazan DALGIC, Esra Cakmak TASKIN, Fatma Dilsad AKSOY, Esra CIFTCI, Solmaz CELEBI, Mustafa HACIMUSTAFAOGLU, Saliha KANIK-YUKSEK, Aslinur OZKAYA-PARLAKAY, Seval OZEN, Hatice Kubra KONCA, Pinar BAYRAKTAR, Nihan COSKUN, Sevgi KUS, Ahu Kara AKSAY, Didem Büyüktas AYTAC, Gulsen AKKOC, Sevliya Ocal DEMIR, Canan OZLU, Serap Kilic KAYA, Esra DISCI, Sare ILBAY, Latife GUDER, Gulsum ALKAN, Busra OZYALVAC, Melike EMIROGLU, Dicle Sener OKUR, Aysenur BOSTAN, Gizem MARDINOGLU, Omer KILIC, Ayse Hitay TELEFON, Merve Kilic CIL, Perihan ESSIZOGLU, Umit CELIK, Gulben Ozgul POSTUK, Zeynep Gokce Gayretli AYDIN, Gulizar Toy USTA, Kıvanc CELIKKALKAN, Hatice Karaoglu ASRAK, Murat BICEN, Muhammet ASENA, Gulhadiye AVCU, Coskun EKEMEN, Ayse Cakil GUZIN, Eda Karadag ONCEL, Semra Bayturan SEN, Hatice Sinav UTKU, Selim ONCEL, Merve Iseri NEPESOV, Ozlem ERDEDE, Pelin KACAR, Mustafa GULDEREN, Arife OZER, Onder KILICASLAN, Adem KARBUZ, Ozlem CAKICI, Ezgi AVCI, Belma YASAR, Zuhal UMIT, Nurettin ERDEM, Sahika SAHINKAYA, Elif Gudeloglu CETIZ, Muhammed Selcuk SINANOGLU, Derya İlhan, Soner Sertan KARA, Yildiz Ekemen KELES, Elif KIYMET, Nahida GOKAY, Edanur YESIL, Necdet KUYUCU, Burcu Ceylan Cura YAYLA, Hanife AVCI, Ali Bulent CENGIZ, Yasemin OZSUREKCI
Turkish Archives of Pediatrics - 2026;61(3):214-222
Objective: Influenza is a contagious viral respiratory tract infection that causes severe illness, particularly in high-risk populations such as young children and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. The study aims to identify clinical characteristics and key risk factors associated with respiratory support and mortality in children with influenza infection. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, multicenter study was conducted across 33 hospitals from 19 cities in Türkiye. Data from pediatric inpatients aged <18 years diagnosed with influenza between October 2023 and May 2024 were analyzed. Results: Among 1032 hospitalized children infected with influenza, 394 (38.2%) required respiratory support. The respiratory support group was significantly younger, with a mean age of 3.40 +/- 4.37 years, compared to 4.96 +/- 4.36 years in the non-respiratory support group (P < .001). The frequency of any underlying disease was significantly higher in the respiratory support group (P < .001). Notably, conditions such as neurometabolic disorders (20.3% vs. 9.6%) and pulmonary diseases (7.1% vs. 2.8%) were more common in this group. Influenza A infection and viral coinfections, particularly with respiratory syncytial virus, increased the likelihood of mechanical ventilation and mortality. The mortality proportion of all patients with influenza infection was 1.3% and the influenza vaccine coverage was only 1.1%. Conclusion: These findings highlight the urgent need to incorporate influenza vaccination into the national immunization program, especially for high-risk pediatric populations.
