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Feasibility of diagnosing influenza within 24 hours of symptom onset in children 1–3 years of age

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Abstract

Diagnosing influenza at an early stage of illness is important for the initiation of effective antiviral treatment. However, especially in young children, influenza often commences with an abrupt onset of fever, with full-blown respiratory symptoms developing only later. We determined the feasibility of diagnosing influenza in young children already during the first signs of the illness. During confirmed influenza activity, we obtained nasal swabs from children aged 1–3 years who presented as outpatients within 24 hours of the onset of fever (≥38.0°C). The specimens were tested for influenza viruses with viral culture, antigen detection, PCR, and a rapid point-of-care test (Actim Influenza A&B, Medix Biochemica, Finland). In addition, follow-up specimens were obtained from a proportion of children 3–7 days later. Influenza virus was detected already within 24 hours of symptom onset in 56 of 61 (92%; 95% CI 82–97%) children in whom influenza was eventually confirmed in the laboratory. A total of 158 rapid tests performed within 24 hours of symptom onset yielded a sensitivity of 90% (95% CI 74–98%) for influenza A viruses but only 25% (95% CI 3–61%) for influenza B viruses (P < 0.001), resulting in an overall sensitivity of 77% (95% CI 61–89%) and specificity of 99% (95% CI 95–100%) for all influenza viruses. In most young children, influenza can already be accurately diagnosed within 24 hours of symptom onset. The rapid point-of-care test used was sensitive and specific for diagnosing influenza A, but its sensitivity for influenza B was limited.

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Acknowledgements

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Basel, Switzerland) provided financial support to the Hospital District of Southwest Finland (Turku University Hospital) for carrying out this investigator-initiated study. Dr Heinonen was supported by grants from Turku University Hospital Foundation and the Foundation for Paediatric Research. The sponsors had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; or preparation of the manuscript. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4–8, 20520, Turku, Finland

    S. Heinonen, H. Silvennoinen, P. Lehtinen & T. Heikkinen

  2. Department of Virology, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 13, 20520, Turku, Finland

    R. Vainionpää

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  1. S. Heinonen
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  2. H. Silvennoinen
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Correspondence to S. Heinonen.

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Heinonen, S., Silvennoinen, H., Lehtinen, P. et al. Feasibility of diagnosing influenza within 24 hours of symptom onset in children 1–3 years of age. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 30, 387–392 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-010-1098-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-010-1098-5

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