tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2011 Dec 14. [Epub ahead of print]
A scoring system for predicting results of influenza rapid test in children: A possible model facing overwhelming pandemic infection.
Lin CY, Chi H, Lin HY, Chang L, Hou JY, Huang CT, Lee HC, Chen MR, Peng CC, Tsung-Ning Huang D, Chiu NC.
Source
Department of Pediatrics, Hsinchu Mackay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu City, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The pandemic novel influenza H1N1 (swine) influenza A virus (H1N1v) infection has caused large-scale community infection in Taiwan. Anxiety developed in the general public and physicians faced a huge challenge in many aspects. We conducted this prospective study to develop a scoring system based on the clinical manifestations for predicting the results of influenza rapid testing, as a surrogate of influenza rapid testing, to lower the anxiety and decrease the burden for the test.
METHODS:
From September 1, 2009 to October 5, 2009, pediatric patients who received influenza rapid tests were enrolled, and questionnaires were recorded and analyzed in the first 2 weeks. A further scoring system was conducted to predict the results of influenza rapid tests and validated in the next 3 weeks.
RESULTS:
Eight hundred and forty-five children were enrolled in our study. In the first phase, data from 506 patients showed that those with age ≥ 5 years, fever ≥ 38?C, contact history of influenza A infection, myalgia, lethargy, sore throat, cough, and headache had a higher risk of positive results (odds ratio: 1.1-2.53). A scoring system was designed, with ≥5 points indicating acceptable sensitivity (69.5%) and specificity (63.6%). Three hundred and thirty-nine patients in the second phase were enrolled to validate the scoring system and the positive and negative predictive values were 52.0% and 73.8%.
CONCLUSION:
The emergence of H1N1v infection is not only an important medical issue, but also a socioeconomic problem. Based on easily available clinical information, we develop a scoring system as a preliminary screening tool for the general public and first-line health care providers to evaluate the possibility of influenza virus infection. Although this study was limited by the sensitivity of rapid tests, this type of model may be a surrogate weapon when faced with overwhelming pandemic infection in the future, especially in areas with scarce medical resources.
Copyright ? 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V.
PMID:
22177368
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22177368
A scoring system for predicting results of influenza rapid test in children: A possible model facing overwhelming pandemic infection.
Lin CY, Chi H, Lin HY, Chang L, Hou JY, Huang CT, Lee HC, Chen MR, Peng CC, Tsung-Ning Huang D, Chiu NC.
Source
Department of Pediatrics, Hsinchu Mackay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu City, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The pandemic novel influenza H1N1 (swine) influenza A virus (H1N1v) infection has caused large-scale community infection in Taiwan. Anxiety developed in the general public and physicians faced a huge challenge in many aspects. We conducted this prospective study to develop a scoring system based on the clinical manifestations for predicting the results of influenza rapid testing, as a surrogate of influenza rapid testing, to lower the anxiety and decrease the burden for the test.
METHODS:
From September 1, 2009 to October 5, 2009, pediatric patients who received influenza rapid tests were enrolled, and questionnaires were recorded and analyzed in the first 2 weeks. A further scoring system was conducted to predict the results of influenza rapid tests and validated in the next 3 weeks.
RESULTS:
Eight hundred and forty-five children were enrolled in our study. In the first phase, data from 506 patients showed that those with age ≥ 5 years, fever ≥ 38?C, contact history of influenza A infection, myalgia, lethargy, sore throat, cough, and headache had a higher risk of positive results (odds ratio: 1.1-2.53). A scoring system was designed, with ≥5 points indicating acceptable sensitivity (69.5%) and specificity (63.6%). Three hundred and thirty-nine patients in the second phase were enrolled to validate the scoring system and the positive and negative predictive values were 52.0% and 73.8%.
CONCLUSION:
The emergence of H1N1v infection is not only an important medical issue, but also a socioeconomic problem. Based on easily available clinical information, we develop a scoring system as a preliminary screening tool for the general public and first-line health care providers to evaluate the possibility of influenza virus infection. Although this study was limited by the sensitivity of rapid tests, this type of model may be a surrogate weapon when faced with overwhelming pandemic infection in the future, especially in areas with scarce medical resources.
Copyright ? 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V.
PMID:
22177368
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22177368