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

The surveillance of influenza virus among children with febrile reparatory complaints attending the pediatric clinic in Shantou is an epidemiologic study 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. Also this study investigates the genetic composition of all segments of isolated strains using standard molecular techniques and to make available the new strains of influenza viruses isolated from such children for the formulation of influenza vaccines. Clinical manifestation of the respiratory illness is recorded and single nasopharyngeal swab is obtained from eligible children. Viral culture is performed on the nasopharyngeal secretions. If influenza is isolated, this is characterized if it belongs to influenza A or B. If the virus is characterized as influenza A, further antigenic studies is done to determine subtype of influenza. Viral isolates is further studied to determine the genetic composition of the virus. Information obtained from the viral isolates is shared with the WHO and the CDC.