Severe Pneumonia Caused by 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Virus in Children and Corticosteroid Treatment.
- Author:
Yu Rak SOHN
1
;
Jong Hee KIM
;
Sang Hyuk MA
;
Kyung Yil LEE
;
Jin Han KANG
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Daegu, Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
- Publication Type:Controlled Clinical Trial ; Original Article
- Keywords:
H1N1 influenza virus;
Corticosteroid;
Pneumonia;
Children
- MeSH:
Adrenal Cortex Hormones;
Aged;
Antiviral Agents;
Child;
Dyspnea;
Fever;
Humans;
Influenza, Human;
Medical Records;
Methylprednisolone;
Orthomyxoviridae;
Oseltamivir;
Oxygen;
Pandemics;
Pneumonia;
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult;
Retrospective Studies;
Thorax;
Viruses
- From:Korean Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
2011;18(2):193-200
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The effect of corticosteroid on severe pneumonia caused by 2009 pandemic influenza (H1N1) A virus is controversial. This study was aimed to present the effects of early, short-term corticosteroid treatment for severe pneumonia with this virus infection. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on severe pneumonia patients (37 patients) who had severe respiratory distress at presentation requiring oxygen therapy and received intravenous methylprednisolone (MP, 8-10 mg/kg, divided in 4 doses/day for 2-3 days) with oseltamivir. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients were evaluated through the medical records and chest radiographic findings. RESULTS: The mean age and male-to-female ratio of the patients were 6.5+/-2.9 years of age, and 3.4:1 (male 29 patients), respectively. The 5-9 aged group was predominant among the age groups (25 patients, 67.6%). Duration of fever prior to admission was 1.4+/-0.6 days and dyspnea developed within 24 h after beginning of respiratory symptoms in all patients. All patients were previously healthy and received oseltamivir within 48 h. Thirteen patients (35.1%) developed dyspnea during oseltamivir treatment. Following MP infusion, all 37 patients including 13 progressive pneumonia patients during oseltamivir treatment showed an immediate halt in the progression of pneumonic infiltration with rapid clinical improvement. There were no side-effects following steroid use. CONCLUSION: For severe pneumonia patients, early corticosteroid treatment halted clinical exacerbation, and possibly prevented progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Further controlled clinical studies are needed for the role of corticosteroids and antivirals on severely affected patients with influenza virus infections.
