The effectiveness of influenza vaccination programmes is seldom known during an epidemic. We developed an internet-based system to record influenza-like symptoms and response to infection in a participating cohort. Using self-reports of influenza-like symptoms and of influenza vaccine history and uptake, we estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) without the need for individuals to seek healthcare...

To evaluate the effectiveness of an intensive hand hygiene campaign on reducing absenteeism caused by influenza-like illness (ILI), diarrhea, conjunctivitis, and laboratory-confirmed influenza, we conducted a randomized control trial in 60 elementary schools in Cairo, Egypt. Children in the intervention schools were required to wash hands twice each day, and health messages were provided throug...

The purpose of this statement is to update current recommendations for routine use of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine and antiviral medications for the prevention and treatment of influenza in children. The 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic virus is expected to circulate, with infants and children at increased risk of severe illness and death. This year's trivalent seasonal influenza vaccin...

A 59 year old woman presented with an influenza-like illness preceding signs and symptoms strongly suggestive of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which progressed over several months. Owing to these influenza-like symptoms, a viral cause of her illness was sought. Human parvovirus B19 serology was positive and antibodies to DNA were detected by two different methods. This patient is believed...

background: world health organization declared pandemic phase of human infection with novel influenza a (h1n1) in april 2009. there are very few reports about the neurological complications of h1n1 virus infection in the literature. occasionally, these complications are severe and even fatal in some individuals. the aims of this study were to report neurological complaints and/or complications ...

BACKGROUND We characterise the clinical features and household transmission of pandemic influenza A (pH1N1) in community cases from Victoria, Australia in 2009. METHODS Questionnaires were used to collect information on epidemiological characteristics, illness features and co-morbidities of cases identified in the 2009 Victorian Influenza Sentinel Surveillance program. RESULTS The median ag...

toxic shock syndrome in children following infection with influenza is a very rare syndrome. if it is not diagnosed quickly, it may cause significant morbidity and mortality. for diagnosis of toxic shock syndrome, clinical and laboratory criteria are used. our patient is a 3.5-year old boy who admitted to the hospital with high fever, weakness, toxicity, hypotension and skin rash due to influen...

In the field of syndromic surveillance, various sources are exploited for outbreak detection, monitoring and prediction. This paper describes a study on queries submitted to a medical web site, with influenza as a case study. The hypothesis of the work was that queries on influenza and influenza-like illness would provide a basis for the estimation of the timing of the peak and the intensity of...

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of community acquired pneumonia (CAP). Influenza infection increases susceptibility to S. pneumoniae infection in adults but this link is less well described in children. We report on an outbreak of CAP affecting 25 previously well adolescents in a New South Wales boarding school. S. pneumoniae 1 was confirmed in two cases. During this period, the scho...