Infants and Young Children and Pandemic H1N1 Influenza

1
Infants and Young Children and Pandemic H1N1
Influenza

• Key learning from seasonal flu and previous
  pandemics
• Children less than 5 years of age have increased
  risk of complications
• Children with high risk medical conditions can
  have severe complications
• Risk for severe complications are highest among
  children less than 2 years of age

2
High Risks for Infants and Young Children

• Other high risk groups
• Infants less than 6 months of age
• Immunosuppressed
• Chronic kidney disease
• Heart disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Diabetes
• Asthma or other lung problems
• Sickle cell disease
• Those on long-term aspirin therapy
• Those with poor nutritional and fluid intake
• Underlying metabolic disorders

3
What To Do

• Symptoms of severe disease may include stopping
  breathing, fast breathing, difficulty breathing,
  turning blue, dehydration, altered mental status
  or extreme irritability
• If you suspect your child has influenza, call
  your doctor and do not give aspirin or products
  containing aspirin