Kansenshōgaku zasshi. The Journal of the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases
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Kansenshogaku Zasshi · Sep 1998
[Impact of influenza A virus infection as a cause of pediatric hospitalization and use of rapid antigen test of influenza A virus].
From the winter of 1997 to the spring of 1988, a severe epidemic caused by influenza A (H3N2) developed in Japan. During the epidemic (December 1997 to February 1998), 239 children were admitted to the pediatric ward of Nippon Kokan Hospital: as many as 76 (31.8%) were hospitalized with influenza A (H3N2) infection. ⋯ The rapid test showed about 90% sensitivity and specificity, as compared with isolation and serum hemagglutination inhibition test. Directigen Flu A proved to be a reliable, rapid screen for influenza A from symptomatic patients.