Guatura SB, Watanabe ASA, Camargo CN, Passos AM, Parmezan SN, Tomazella TKC, Carraro E, Kamikawa J, Granato C, Bellei N. Surveillance of influenza A H1N1 2009 among school children during 2009 and 2010 in São Paulo, Brazil.
Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2013;
45:563-6. [PMID:
23152337 DOI:
10.1590/s0037-86822012000500005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2011] [Accepted: 03/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Influenza A H1N1 2009 is associated with a high morbidity rate among children around the world, including Brazil. This survey was conducted on samples of symptomatic children (< 12 years) to investigate the influenza virus as the etiological agent of respiratory infections in a day care school in a health facility during the first and second pandemic wave of H1N1 (2009-2010) in São Paulo, Brazil.
METHODS
Influenza infections were determined by real-time PCR in 34% (47/137) of children with a median age of 5 years (8 months - 12 years), from June to October 2009 and in 16% (14/85) of those with median age of 6 years (1-12 years), from March to November 2010.
RESULTS
In general, most positive cases (64%) occurred in children aged 5-12 years, this age group was significantly the most affected (39.8%, p = 0.001, OR = 8.3, CI 95% 1.9-36.9). Wheezing was reported by 31% (19/61) and dyspnea by 23% (14/61) of the studied patients. An outbreak of influenza H1N1 with an attack rate of 35.7% among children (median age 6 years) was documented in April 2010, before the vaccination campaign against the pandemic virus was extended for children up to 5 years in Brazil.
CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, the study reinforces the recommendation to immunize school children to reduce the incidence of the disease.
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