OBJECTIVES: Children have a disproportionately higher risk of influenza-related morbidity and mortality. Despite this, immunisation against influenza is not universally funded for children in Australia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life burden and healthcare resource utilisation attributable to influenza in children within the Australian setting from published sources.

METHODS: Literature searches of the Medline database using the PubMed platform were performed in November 2018. Data on influenza-related resource utilisation were extracted from seven studies and six studies evaluating quality of life burden of influenza were investigated.

RESULTS: The majority of resource use studies were prospective cohort studies reporting both the direct and indirect burden of influenza in children in hospital (n=2) or community-based settings (n=4). The mean cost per episode of community-managed disease was estimated in three studies as $240.88 [2001/2002 costs], $308.70 [2003 costs] and $626 [2010 costs]. The key cost driver was carer time away from usual activities and work, making up 78% of total costs (range 64.8-91.2%), followed by healthcare visits. Resource utilisation estimates without cost-related information were reported in another three studies, whilst one cost-of-illness study estimated that the cost of influenza-related illness in a typical season is $115 million from the perspective of the Australian healthcare system. A quality of life study relevant to the Australian setting derived a utility weight for a day with influenza symptoms of 0.5579.

CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life implications and economic burden of influenza infection in children are significant, particularly when indirect societal costs such as carer absenteeism and lost productivity are considered. This summary of the available data will help inform the cost-effectiveness of a universal influenza vaccine program in children.