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Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2015 Sep 29. [Epub ahead of print]
Burden of Influenza and Influenza-Associated Pneumonia in the First Year of Life in a Prospective Cohort Study in Managua, Nicaragua.
Gresh L1, Kuan G, Sanchez N, Azziz-Baumgartner E, Ojeda S, Melendez M, Lopez R, Martin ET, Widdowson MA, Bresee J, Harris E, Balmaseda A, Gordon A.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Influenza is a major public health problem worldwide; however, relatively little is known about influenza in tropical regions, especially for infants. Additional information is required to inform public health policy-making, in particular vaccination guidelines.
METHODS:
Between September 2011 and July 2013, we enrolled newborns into the Nicaraguan Birth Cohort Study. Infants were provided primary medical care and actively followed for RT-PCR-confirmed influenza virus infection when presenting with influenza-like illness or undifferentiated fever. This report presents data pertaining to the first year of life.
RESULTS:
Of the 518 children enrolled in the study, 441 participated throughout their first year of life, 71 were withdrawn, and 6 died. Overall, 13% of the participants experienced at least one laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infection. The overall incidence of influenza was 15.5 cases per 100 person-years (95% CI: 12.2, 19.5). Infants aged 6-11 months experienced significantly higher rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza than infants aged 0-5 months (incidence rate ratio 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3, 3.4). The overall incidence of pneumonia was 52.6 cases per 100 person-years (95% CI: 46.3, 59.6). Threepercent of the pneumonia cases were influenza-associated, and the incidence of influenza-associated pneumonia and hospitalization was 1.7 (95% CI: 0.9, 3.5) and 0.22 (95% CI: 0.03, 1.55) cases per 100 person-years, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS:
We found a significant burden of influenza and influenza-associated severe respiratory outcomes in infants. Our results support the need to explore the potential value of vaccinating pregnant women and infants aged >6 months, as recommended by the World Health Organization in 2012.
PMID: 26421805 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Burden of Influenza and Influenza-Associated Pneumonia in the First Year of Life in a Prospective Cohort Study in Managua, Nicaragua.
Gresh L1, Kuan G, Sanchez N, Azziz-Baumgartner E, Ojeda S, Melendez M, Lopez R, Martin ET, Widdowson MA, Bresee J, Harris E, Balmaseda A, Gordon A.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Influenza is a major public health problem worldwide; however, relatively little is known about influenza in tropical regions, especially for infants. Additional information is required to inform public health policy-making, in particular vaccination guidelines.
METHODS:
Between September 2011 and July 2013, we enrolled newborns into the Nicaraguan Birth Cohort Study. Infants were provided primary medical care and actively followed for RT-PCR-confirmed influenza virus infection when presenting with influenza-like illness or undifferentiated fever. This report presents data pertaining to the first year of life.
RESULTS:
Of the 518 children enrolled in the study, 441 participated throughout their first year of life, 71 were withdrawn, and 6 died. Overall, 13% of the participants experienced at least one laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infection. The overall incidence of influenza was 15.5 cases per 100 person-years (95% CI: 12.2, 19.5). Infants aged 6-11 months experienced significantly higher rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza than infants aged 0-5 months (incidence rate ratio 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3, 3.4). The overall incidence of pneumonia was 52.6 cases per 100 person-years (95% CI: 46.3, 59.6). Threepercent of the pneumonia cases were influenza-associated, and the incidence of influenza-associated pneumonia and hospitalization was 1.7 (95% CI: 0.9, 3.5) and 0.22 (95% CI: 0.03, 1.55) cases per 100 person-years, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS:
We found a significant burden of influenza and influenza-associated severe respiratory outcomes in infants. Our results support the need to explore the potential value of vaccinating pregnant women and infants aged >6 months, as recommended by the World Health Organization in 2012.
PMID: 26421805 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]