Zachorowania na grypę u dzieci do 2. roku życia^**

Edyta Zawłocka¹, Jakub Chwiećko¹,*Teresa Jackowska^{1, 2}

Summary
Influenza is an infectious disease caused by viruses of the Orthomyxoviridae family, which usually cause infections of the respiratory tract, especially the nose, throat and lungs. The influenza virus is spread by respiratory droplets. The incubation period usually lasts two days.
The main symptoms are usually fever, rhinitis, cough, vomiting, myalgia, malaise. In young children, especially under 6 months of age, symptoms may be nonspecific, such as fever, apnea or seizures. Influenza usually has a self-limiting course, but may also lead to complications, such as pneumonia (the most common cause of death), otitis media, encephalitis and myocarditis. The most severe course of influenza is observed in children below 2 years of age, persons with chronic diseases and pregnant women.
In children under 2 years of age the risk of hospitalization is almost 3 times higher than in the group of 11-17-year-olds. Most of the hospitalizations are of infants under 6 months of age and neonates.
There are various diagnostic methods to detect the virus, but the most frequently used are bedside rapid diagnostic tests (Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Test – RIDT) or the PCR tests (polymerase chain reaction). For the treatment and prevention of influenza three drugs are available: oseltamivir (for all ages), zanamivir (≥ 5 years of age), and peramivir (for adults, not registered in Poland). No chemoprophylaxis is, however, able to replace vaccination against influenza, which is recommended from the 6^th month of age.
The paper presents the course, frequency, diversity of symptoms and treatment of influenza in the youngest age group.

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