Surveillance of Influenza Virus Shedding and Immunologic Response in Immunocompromised Children and Young Adults

Influenza virus infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The limited existing knowledge about the impact of influenza in immunocompromised patients suggests that they are at increased risk of influenza virus acquisition, of developing complications and of prolonged illness and viral shedding. However, some other data about the effect of antiviral agents on the infection course, and risk of resistance in immunocompromised children are lacking. The emergence of the pandemic H1N1 swine-origin influenza A virus has generated an additional need to study the epidemiology, clinical course and outcome of influenza infections in immunocompromised children. This study proposed to conduct a prospective observational clinical study to answer these questions.