PANDEMIC INFLUENZA A (H1N1) 2009 IN CHILDREN

The clinical symptoms of influenza infection in children are characterized by sudden onset of fever, headache, diffuse myalgia, and malaise with subsequent respiratory tract symptoms. A new strain of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus, which is suggested to have emerged as a result of an antigenic re-assortment between human, avian and swine influenza viruses, emerged in Mexico in April 2009. On 11 June 2009, WHO raised the level of pandemic alert level to Phase 6, and declared the first pandemic of the 21th century. In this article, the characteristics of patients with pandemic influenza are discussed.