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Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Journal
ISSN: 2471-8084
Internat i ona l Conference on
Biotechnology, Biomarkers
& Systems Biology
M a r c h 0 4 - 0 5 , 2 0 1 9
Am s t e r d a m , N e t h e r l a n d s
Biotechnology, Biomarkers & Systems Biology 2019
Background:
Influenza is a common illness of childhood and the burden of disease is higher among pre-school children with
attack rates up to 20%-30%. Limited information about burden of influenza in children is available in Pakistan, therefore the
present study was designed to estimate incidence rate of influenza in both outpatient and hospitalize children with underlying
risk factors and clinical features.
Methods:
During 2009-17, throat and nasopharyngeal swabs collected from children ≤12 years of age were processed for
detection of influenza viruses by Real-Time PCR protocol of CDC. SPSS 22.0 was used for statistical analysis presented in this
study.
Results
: A total of 13,081 influenza-associated outpatients and hospitalized children were enrolled during 2009 to 2017. Influenza
virus detection rate was 72% (9418) in the outpatients and 28% (3663) in the hospitalized patients. Of these 54% children (7064)
were aged ≥12 years. Influenza viruses were detected in 17% (1216) children, of whom 845 (69%) were positive for Inf A and
371 (31%) as Inf B viruses respectively. The detection of influenza B strain was higher in both groups of children, 29% and 35%
respectively following the A/H1N1pdm09 strain. The high frequency of influenza viruses were reported in year 2011 and A/
H1N1pdm09 was dominant strain as well. The mean ± SD of children age ≥6 and ≥12 years was 2.4±1.7 and 9.2±2.4 respectively.
The gender ratio amongst both groups was equal. Cross sectional analysis showed that fever 1120 (96%), cough 1204 (99%)
and sore throat 1021 (84%) was significant factors for influenza infections (p=0.001), however no significant differences were
observed with respect to respiratory, liver and metabolic diseases between these groups. Influenza vaccination status was
record only in 1% cases. The incidence rate of influenza outpatient and hospitalized was 27/1000 and 13/1000 persons years
respectively. The average annual rate of influenza was higher (180 cases/1000) among ≥6 years of age than ≥12 years old
children (145 cases/1000).
Conclusions:
Higher influenza incidence rate was observed particularly among six year old children, which might contribute to
increase in the hospitalization. We believe that vaccination of children will reduce the hospitalization rate and socio-economic
burden of influenza in the community if included in national extended program of immunization. Furthermore improvements in
existing influenza virus surveillance system are required to estimate the actual burden of influenza in children.
nisar.nadia@gmail.comImportance of influenza vaccination in children
for disease control in Pakistan 2009-2017
Nadia N
1
, Bashir U
2
and Badar N
3
1
University of Arid Agriculture, Pakistan
2
NUST Islamabad, Pakistan
3
Quaid-i-Azam, Pakistan
Biochem Mol biol J 2019, Volume:5
DOI: 10.21767/2471-8084-C1-024