NASHIK: Pediatricians in the city said one in three children with influenza have high risk of serious health complications. Doctors presented data and implications related to influenza during a seminar on Thursday. The seminar was conducted by pediatricians Anand Makhariya and Milind Gangurde on the backdrop of the monsoons and possibility of influenza. Doctors said influenza, commonly known as flu, is a viral infection that attacks the respiratory system — nose, throat and lungs. Influenza impacts people of all ages but can be life threatening for children. Influenza occurs globally with an rate estimated at 5%-10% in adults and 20%-30% in children. Recently published data in India attributes around 5-10% of all acute respiratory infections to influenza. "Healthy children are at equal risk to get and suffer influenza infection. During 2009 pandemic in USA, 47% of deaths occurred in children with no underlying medical condition. Even 43% of hospitalized children were healthy before getting influenza," Makhariya said. The doctors said flu viruses travel through the air in droplets when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes or talks. One can inhale the droplets directly, or can pick up the germs from an object — such as a telephone or computer keyboard — and then transfer them to eyes, nose or mouth. People with the virus are likely to carry the infection from the day before symptoms first appear until five to 10 days later, they said. The common symptoms include a high fever (101oF-102oF) that begins suddenly, muscle or body ache, chills, tiredness. Influenza frequently can cause severe complications such as pneumonia. Makhariya said, "Children can be key spreaders in a population since they are in frequent contact with each other as well as family members. They are more susceptible to influenza infection than adults, and can shed greater amounts of virus for longer periods of time. Children aged 4-6 years have the highest transmission potential." Transmission of epidemic seasonal influenza in school settings is well documented. It can be explosive and fast moving, affecting a sizeable proportion of students and staff - contact with a sick person, sharing a classroom with a sick person, staying in the hostels, school-related activities. Influenza is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in children. Attack rates of influenza during annual epidemics are consistently highest in children. Gangurde said, "Children are the future of any nation but heavy burden of influenza may impair their daily life. They miss school and also become very weak." @http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/Doctors-spell-out-flu-risks-among-kids-during-monsoon/articleshow/47729052.cms

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