Clinical features of 127 cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection in Fujian Province

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Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi. 2010 Feb;33(2):81-5.
[Clinical features of 127 cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection in Fujian Province.]

[Article in Chinese]

Chen YS, Weng H, Pei XY, Lin ZS, Lin TY, Lin QC, Hong XC, Li HR, Miao Y, Chen WY.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fujian Provincial Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China.
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features of 127 cases of the novel influenza A/H1N1 infection in Fujian Province. METHODS: This study included 127 human cases with the novel influenza A/H1N1 infection in Fujian Province from May 2009 to July 2009. Data were collected and reviewed from hospital medical records. The statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 11.5. RESULTS: The median age of the 127 patients (55 were females) was 21 years (range 0.4 - 58). The median incubation period was 2 d (range 1 - 12 d). The typical clinical symptoms included fever, cough, sputum, and sore throat. The duration of symptoms in patients less than 5 years old and in patients more than 5 years old were (8.2 +/- 4.1) and (5.4 +/- 3.0) d respectively, the difference between these 2 groups being significant (z = 3.182, P < 0.01). There was also a statistically significant difference in the duration of symptoms between the high-temperature group and the low-temperature group [(6.8 +/- 3.2) vs (4.8 +/- 2.1) d, Hc = 9.729, P < 0.05]. The duration of symptoms in the high, the normal and the low white blood cell groups were (6.3 +/- 4.7) d, (5.4 +/- 2.8) d, and (8.5 +/- 4.2) d respectively, but the differences were not statistically significant (Hc = 4.729, P = 0.094). However, the duration of symptoms in the higher lymphocyte count group was significantly longer than that in the lower and normal lymphocyte count groups [(6.8 +/- 3.3) vs (5.4 +/- 3.4), (5.2 +/- 3.2) d, Hc = 10.105, P < 0.01]. Chest radiography showed patchy infiltrates in 6 patients, and their duration of symptoms was longer than patients with normal chest radiography [(8.1 +/- 5.7) vs (5.6 +/- 3.1) d], but the difference was not statistically significant (z = 1.286, P > 0.05). 125 patients received antiviral treatment with oseltamivir and they all had a good prognosis. There was a statistical difference in the duration of symptoms between the patients who used oseltamivir within 48 h after disease onset and patients who used the drug beyond 48 h [(4.7 +/- 2.2) vs (7.4 +/- 4.1) days, z = 4.907, P < 0.01]. All of the patients survived. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical symptoms of this series of patients with the novel influenza A (H1N1) infection appeared to be mild. There were several factors associated with longer duration of symptoms, including aged 5 years or younger, higher fever (body temperature > 38 degrees C), higher white blood cell count and lymphocyte count. The early use of anti-retroviral treatment with oseltamivir was useful in shortening the duration. The novel influenza A (H1N1) infection was a self-limited disease, and patients with no complications had a good prognosis.

PMID: 20367945 [PubMed - in process]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20367945

 

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Re: Clinical features of 127 cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection in Fujian Province

There was a statistical difference in the duration of symptoms between the patients who used oseltamivir within 48 h after disease onset and patients who used the drug beyond 48 h [(4.7 +/- 2.2) vs (7.4 +/- 4.1) days, z = 4.907, P < 0.01

Limited studies of H5N1 have shown that the same relationship is true for the use of oseltamivir among individuals infected with H5N1. There seems to be a greater chance of survival of an H5N1 infection if the patient is given oseltamivir within the first 24-48 hours of symptoms.