Influenza-Associated Deaths among Children in the United States, 2003–2004

Although influenza is common among children, pediatric mortality related to laboratory-confirmed influenza has not been assessed nationally.

During the 2003-2004 influenza season, we requested that state health departments report any death associated with laboratory-confirmed influenza in a U.S. resident younger than 18 years of age. Case reports, medical records, and autopsy reports were reviewed, and available influenza-virus isolates were analyzed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.