TY - JOUR
T1 - Clinical spectrum, risk factors, and outcomes of children with laboratory-confirmed influenza infection managed in a single tertiary hospital
T2 - A 6-year retrospective cohort study
AU - Al Ali, Alya
AU - Al Kuwaiti, Najla
AU - Al Kaabi, Eiman
AU - Al Kaabi, Salwa
AU - Al Kaabi, Aysha
AU - Narchi, Hassib
N1 - Funding Information:
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public or commercial sectors. We are grateful to the participating children, their families, and all the staff involved in their care. Without them, this study would not have been possible.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - Background: Influenza is a highly contagious disease that causes severe illness each year. Data in the United Arab Emirates are scarce. Objectives: To study the seasonality, morbidity, mortality rate, and comorbidities associated with confirmed influenza infection in a tertiary hospital in Al-Ain city, UAE. Methods: Retrospective study, from 2012 to 2017, of the electronic medical records in Tawam hospital, of children up to 15 years of age with laboratory-confirmed influenza infection. Results: There were 1392 children, with the highest number in 2017 (n = 461, 33%). The incidence peaked between October and March. The infection was more common between 1 and 11 years of age (n = 948, 68%). The overall prevalence of influenza A (n = 1144, 82%) was higher than influenza B (n = 276, 19.8%). One-third of the patients required admission. The commonest underlying comorbidity was asthma (n = 170, 12%). The two commonest complications were pneumonia (n = 165, 12%) and acute otitis media (n = 82, 6%). Conclusion: Our findings serve as a benchmark for comparison with reports from other countries and need to be considered when reviewing the national vaccination program.
AB - Background: Influenza is a highly contagious disease that causes severe illness each year. Data in the United Arab Emirates are scarce. Objectives: To study the seasonality, morbidity, mortality rate, and comorbidities associated with confirmed influenza infection in a tertiary hospital in Al-Ain city, UAE. Methods: Retrospective study, from 2012 to 2017, of the electronic medical records in Tawam hospital, of children up to 15 years of age with laboratory-confirmed influenza infection. Results: There were 1392 children, with the highest number in 2017 (n = 461, 33%). The incidence peaked between October and March. The infection was more common between 1 and 11 years of age (n = 948, 68%). The overall prevalence of influenza A (n = 1144, 82%) was higher than influenza B (n = 276, 19.8%). One-third of the patients required admission. The commonest underlying comorbidity was asthma (n = 170, 12%). The two commonest complications were pneumonia (n = 165, 12%) and acute otitis media (n = 82, 6%). Conclusion: Our findings serve as a benchmark for comparison with reports from other countries and need to be considered when reviewing the national vaccination program.
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U2 - 10.1002/hsr2.432
DO - 10.1002/hsr2.432
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85121880585
SN - 2398-8835
VL - 4
JO - Health Science Reports
JF - Health Science Reports
IS - 4
M1 - e432
ER -