Outbreak of Influenza B in a Children's Home

Abstract

During a 20-day period in January, 1962, 133 of 280 normal children in a children's home were hospitalized with influenza, and detailed clinical and laboratory observations were made. The diagnosis was confirmed by isolation of Type B influenza virus or demonstration of a 4-fold hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody rise in 123 children. The majority of the children who were admitted had fever, headache, cough, and no localizing signs. Complications included pneumonia (3 cases), otitis media (4), and sinusitis (3 ). A 4-fold rise in<i>hemagglutination-inhibiting</i>antibody was demonstrated in 60% of the asymptomatic children who were not hospitalized. Influenza virus was recovered from the rectal swabbings of 11 of 96 children, a new observation which indicates that myxoviruses may be present in the feces more frequently than previously recognized.