Characteristics and mortality risk of children with life-threatening influenza infection admitted to paediatric intensive care in England 2003-2015.

•79% of influenza-related PICU admissions were in children with high-risk chronic conditions.•7.3% of admissions ended in death for the admitted child.•Girls admitted to PICU with influenza had almost twice the odds of dying compared to boys.•Mortality was significantly higher before and during the A(H1N1)pdm 2009 pandemic compared to the post-pandemic period.