Surveillance of Influenza Virus Among Children With Febrile Respiratory Complaints Attending the Pediatric Clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, Mainland China

OBJECTIVES

Primary objective:

• To identify the type (Influenza A or B) and the subtype of Influenza A of the isolates from children with febrile respiratory complaints who attend the pediatric clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.

Secondary objectives

• To investigate the genetic composition of all segments of isolated strains using standard molecular techniques.
• To make available the new strains of influenza viruses isolated from such children for the formulation of influenza vaccines.

Inclusion criteria

• Age: 0 day to 18 years.
• Patient was seen at the pediatric clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital within 7 days of the onset of signs and symptoms of febrile respiratory illness suspected to be of viral origin (temperature > 37.7ºC or reliable history of fever before being examined, and respiratory symptoms and signs such as cough, sore throat, and coryza).
• Parents agree to a nasopharyngeal specimen being taken by swab from their child.

Exclusion criteria

• Patient is too ill to tolerate a nasopharyngeal specimen swab.