H1N1 infection in children with haematological and oncological diseases in Norway

Abstract

Aim: To describe the impact of H1N1 infections in children with haematological and oncological diseases during the 2009 H1N1 pandemics.

Methods: A short questionnaire was e-mailed to all paediatric departments taking care of patients with oncological and chronic haematological diseases, asking for known cases of H1N1 infections in this patient group.

Results: Nine children treated for cancer and seven children with haematological diseases were registered. No death occurred, but two patients treated for cancer (acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at diagnosis, acute myeloid leukaemia in chemotherapy-induced bone marrow aplasia) experienced life-threatening respiratory complications.

Conclusion: In all patients with haematological disease and most cases of oncological diseases, the infections ran a mild course. However, life-threatening complications occurred in severely immunosuppressed and neutropenic patients. Delay of anticancer treatment is a concern even in mild cases.