GÜLİN SELİN ÖĞÜTÇÜ, SONER SERTAN KARA, GÜNEŞ SÖZMEN ÖZÇOLPAN
Anatolian Journal of General Medical Research - 2025;35(1):1-7
OBJECTIVE 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 4.85±3.94 years, 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.
