Pandemic H1N1 influenza infection in children with acute leukemia: a single-center experience

In English literature, there are only 2 specific series of pandemic H1N1 influenza infection in children with leukemia. To increase knowledge about pandemic influenza in children with leukemia and better understand the risk factors for severe disease, we have presented the clinical characteristics of 8 children with acute leukemia and pandemic influenza treated at our center. The mean age of the children (4 girls and 4 boys) was 6.7±2.0 years (range, 4 to 10 y). All these children [3 acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 5 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases] were receiving chemotherapy during the course of infection, except 1 who was found to be H1N1 positive at the same time that she was diagnosed with AML. Among the other 7 patients undergoing chemotherapy, 4 were receiving induction, 1 was receiving consolidation, and 2 were undergoing maintenance chemotherapy. In our series, 1 patient with AML had a fatal course. She had recently received a chemotherapy bloc. Her neutrophil count was 0 during the course of H1N1 infection. She developed acute respiratory distress syndrome within a short time after the symptoms commenced and she died within 4 days. In conclusion, the clinical course of H1N1 infection may be fatal in rare cases of leukemic children receiving chemotherapy. Thus, vaccination is advisable for all leukemic children, especially for those under maintenance chemotherapy, as it might be life saving during such pandemics.