tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Saudi Med J. 2011 Sep;32(9):933-8.
Impact of pH1N1 influenza A infections on the Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Clinic during Hajj, 2009.
Alherabi AZ.
Source
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel. +966 503832472. Fax: +966 (2) 5534088. E-mail: herabi@hotmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To examine the possible implications of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A (pandemic flu, pH1N1) on this religious gathering and provide a response plan for the Otolaryngology, Head and Neck (ENT) clinic during the Hajj pilgrimage.
METHODS:
This study was conducted between November and December 2009. All patients presenting to the ENT clinic at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS:
A total of 3087 patients were included (mean age 35+/-7.8 years), of which, 2114 were males (68.5%), and 973 females (31.5%, male to female gender ratio=2.17:1). Among them, 1467 patients (47.5%) were Hajji and 1620 patients (52.5%) were non-Hajji. Saudi patients comprised 1602 (51.8%), while non-Saudi's comprised 1485 (48.2%). Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) including the diagnosis of pharyngitis, viral URTI, pH1N1, and tonsillitis represented (92%) of total diagnoses. Of these, only 77 suspected pH1N1 cases (2.5%) were observed in the ENT clinic. Management of 3045 patients (98.6%) included antimicrobials as part of their main therapy.
CONCLUSION:
The pH1N1 cases presenting to our ENT Hajj clinic had a minimal impact on the clinic operation. The ENT Hajj Clinic helped alleviate pressure from the ER. Excessive use of antibiotic usage should be discouraged.
PMID:
21894357
[PubMed - in process]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21894357
Impact of pH1N1 influenza A infections on the Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Clinic during Hajj, 2009.
Alherabi AZ.
Source
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel. +966 503832472. Fax: +966 (2) 5534088. E-mail: herabi@hotmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To examine the possible implications of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A (pandemic flu, pH1N1) on this religious gathering and provide a response plan for the Otolaryngology, Head and Neck (ENT) clinic during the Hajj pilgrimage.
METHODS:
This study was conducted between November and December 2009. All patients presenting to the ENT clinic at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS:
A total of 3087 patients were included (mean age 35+/-7.8 years), of which, 2114 were males (68.5%), and 973 females (31.5%, male to female gender ratio=2.17:1). Among them, 1467 patients (47.5%) were Hajji and 1620 patients (52.5%) were non-Hajji. Saudi patients comprised 1602 (51.8%), while non-Saudi's comprised 1485 (48.2%). Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) including the diagnosis of pharyngitis, viral URTI, pH1N1, and tonsillitis represented (92%) of total diagnoses. Of these, only 77 suspected pH1N1 cases (2.5%) were observed in the ENT clinic. Management of 3045 patients (98.6%) included antimicrobials as part of their main therapy.
CONCLUSION:
The pH1N1 cases presenting to our ENT Hajj clinic had a minimal impact on the clinic operation. The ENT Hajj Clinic helped alleviate pressure from the ER. Excessive use of antibiotic usage should be discouraged.
PMID:
21894357
[PubMed - in process]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21894357