scholarly journals On the relative role of different age groups during influenza A epidemics in Germany, 2002-2017

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Goldstein

AbstractBackgroundThere is limited information about the role of different age groups, particularly subgroups of school-age children and younger adults in propagating influenza epidemics.MethodsFor a communicable disease outbreak, some subpopulations may play a disproportionate role during the ascent of the outbreak due to increased susceptibility and/or contact rates. Such subpopulations can be identified by considering the proportion that cases in a subpopulation represent among all cases in the population occurring before the epidemic peak (Bp), the corresponding proportion after the epidemic peak (Ap), to calculate the relative risk for a subpopulation, RR=Bp/Ap. We estimated RR for several age groups using data on reported influenza A cases in Germany between 2002-2017.ResultsChildren aged 14-17y had the highest RR estimates for 7 out of 15 influenza A epidemics in the data, including the 2009 pandemic, and the large 2016/17, 2008/09, and 2006/07 seasons. Children aged 10-13y had the highest RR estimates during 3 epidemics, including the large 2014/15 and 2004/05 seasons. Children aged 6-9y had the highest RR estimates during two epidemics, including the large 2012/13 season. Children aged 2-5y had the highest RR estimate during the moderate 2015/16 season; adults aged 18-24y had the highest RR estimate during the small 2005/06 season; adults aged 25-34y had the highest RR estimate during the large, 2002/03 season.ConclusionsOur results support the prominent role of all school-age children, particularly the oldest ones, in propagating influenza epidemics in the community. We note that national vaccination coverage levels among older school-age children were lower than among younger school-age children during the recent influenza seasons in the US, and influenza vaccination program in England has not been phased in yet for secondary school students.

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Goldstein ◽  
H. H. Nguyen ◽  
P. Liu ◽  
C. Viboud ◽  
C.A. Steiner ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundWhile RSV circulation results in high burden of hospitalization, particularly among infants, young children and the elderly, little is known about the role of different age groups in propagating annual RSV epidemics in the community.MethodsDuring a communicable disease outbreak, some subpopulations may play a disproportionate role during the outbreak's ascent due to increased susceptibility and/or contact rates. Such subpopulations can be identified by considering the proportion that cases in a subpopulation represent among all cases in the population occurring before (Bp) and after the epidemic peak (Ap) to calculate the subpopulation's relative risk, RR=Bp/Ap. We estimated RR for several age groups using data on RSV hospitalizations in the US between 2001-2012 from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP).ResultsChildren aged 3-4y and 5-6y each had the highest RR estimate for 5/11 seasons in the data, with RSV hospitalization rates in infants being generally higher during seasons when children aged 5-6y had the highest RR estimates. Children aged 2y had the highest RR estimate during one season. RR estimates in infants and individuals aged 11y and older were mostly lower than in children aged 1-10y.ConclusionsThe RR estimates suggest that preschool and young school-age children have the leading relative roles during RSV epidemics. We hope that those results will aid in the design of RSV vaccination policies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Goldstein ◽  
Colin J Worby ◽  
Marc Lipsitch

Abstract Background There is limited information on the roles of different age groups in propagating pertussis outbreaks, and on the impact of vaccination on pertussis transmission in the community. Methods The relative roles of different age groups in propagating the 2012 pertussis outbreak in Wisconsin were evaluated using the relative risk (RR) statistic that measures the change in the group’s proportion among all detected cases before vs after the epidemic peak. The impact of vaccination in different age groups against infection (that is potentially different from the protective effect against detectable disease) was evaluated using the odds ratios (ORs), within each age group, for being vaccinated vs undervaccinated before vs after the outbreak’s peak. Results The RR statistic suggests that children aged 13–14 years played the largest relative role during the outbreak’s ascent (with estimates consistent across the 3 regions in Wisconsin that were studied), followed by children aged 7–8, 9–10, and 11–12 years. Young children and older teenagers and adults played more limited relative roles during the outbreak. Results of the vaccination status analysis for the fifth dose of DTaP (for children aged 7–8 years: OR, 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.23–0.86; for children aged 9–10 years: OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.27–0.95); and for Tdap for children aged 13–14 years (OR, 0.38, 95% CI, 0.16–0.89) are consistent with protective effect against infection. Conclusions While our epidemiological findings for the fifth dose of DTaP and for Tdap are consistent with protective effect against infection, further studies, including those estimating vaccine effectiveness against infection/transmission to others particularly for pertussis vaccines for adolescents, are needed to evaluate the impact of vaccination on the spread of pertussis in the community.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 695
Author(s):  
Cristina Galli ◽  
Laura Pellegrinelli ◽  
Laura Bubba ◽  
Valeria Primache ◽  
Giovanni Anselmi ◽  
...  

This paper outlines the role of Lombardy’s regional influenza reference laboratory (Northern Italy) in the surveillance of influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 circulation by analyzing 631 consecutive nasopharyngeal swabs (NPSs) collected from ILI outpatients by sentinel physicians during the 2019–2020 season. The samples were tested by specific real-time RT-PCRs targeting SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses, and RSVs. Results: Of these NPSs, 31% tested positive for influenza viruses, 10% for SARS-CoV-2, and 7% for RSV. No coinfections were detected. Influenza viruses and RSVs circulated throughout the surveillance period until the end of February (week 9-2020), when they suddenly ceased to circulate seven weeks earlier than during the previous five influenza seasons. After the first detection of SARS-CoV-2 in our ILI outpatients at the beginning of March (week 10-2020), SARS-CoV-2 remained the only virus identified throughout the surveillance period. Patients ≥ 65 years had a 3.2-fold greater risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2, while school-age children (5–14 years) and children < 5 years proved to be the age groups most at risk of contracting influenza viruses and RSV, respectively. Our experience demonstrates that laboratory-based ILI surveillance networks are essential for identifying SARS-CoV-2 cases that would otherwise remain undetected, in order to stop their spread within our communities.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 1862-1874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabuktagin Rahman ◽  
Tahmeed Ahmed ◽  
Ahmed Shafiqur Rahman ◽  
Nurul Alam ◽  
AM Shamsir Ahmed ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveUsing data from the national micronutrients survey 2011–2012, the present study explored the determinants of Fe status and Hb levels in Bangladesh with a particular focus on groundwater Fe.DesignCross-sectional study conducted at the nationwide scale.SettingsThe survey was conducted in 150 clusters, fifty in each of the three strata of rural, urban and slum.SubjectsThree population groups: pre-school age children (6–59 months; PSAC), school age children (6–14 years; SAC) and non-pregnant non-lactating women (15–49 years; NPNLW).ResultsNational prevalence of Fe deficiency was 10·7 %, 7·1 % and 3·9–9·5 % in PSAC, NPNLW and SAC, respectively. Prevalence of anaemia was 33·1 % (PSAC), 26·0 % (NPNLW) and 17·1–19·1 % (SAC). Multivariate regression analyses showed that the area with ‘predominantly high groundwater Fe’ was a determinant of higher serum ferritin levels in NPNLW (standardized β=0·19; P=0·03), SAC (standardized β=0·22; P=0·01) and PSAC (standardized β=0·20; P=0·03). This area also determined higher levels of Hb in PSAC (standardized β=0·14; P=0·01).ConclusionsNational prevalence of Fe deficiency in Bangladesh is low, contrary to the widely held assumption. High Fe level in groundwater is associated with higher Fe status (all populations) and higher Hb level (PSAC).


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (39) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard G Pebody ◽  
Helen K Green ◽  
Nick Andrews ◽  
Nicola L Boddington ◽  
Hongxin Zhao ◽  
...  

The 2014/15 influenza season was the second season of roll-out of a live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) programme for healthy children in England. During this season, besides offering LAIV to all two to four year olds, several areas piloted vaccination of primary (4–11 years) and secondary (11–13 years) age children. Influenza A(H3N2) circulated, with strains genetically and antigenically distinct from the 2014/15 A(H3N2) vaccine strain, followed by a drifted B strain. We assessed the overall and indirect impact of vaccinating school age children, comparing cumulative disease incidence in targeted and non-targeted age groups in vaccine pilot to non-pilot areas. Uptake levels were 56.8% and 49.8% in primary and secondary school pilot areas respectively. In primary school age pilot areas, cumulative primary care influenza-like consultation, emergency department respiratory attendance, respiratory swab positivity, hospitalisation and excess respiratory mortality were consistently lower in targeted and non-targeted age groups, though less for adults and more severe end-points, compared with non-pilot areas. There was no significant reduction for excess all-cause mortality. Little impact was seen in secondary school age pilot only areas compared with non-pilot areas. Vaccination of healthy primary school age children resulted in population-level impact despite circulation of drifted A and B influenza strains.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 1311-1315
Author(s):  
Sergey M. Kondrashov ◽  
John A. Tetnowski

Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the perceptions of stuttering of school-age children who stutter and those of adults who stutter through the use of the same tools that could be commonly used by clinicians. Method Twenty-three participants across various ages and stuttering severity were administered both the Stuttering Severity Instrument–Fourth Edition (SSI-4; Riley, 2009 ) and the Wright & Ayre Stuttering Self-Rating Profile ( Wright & Ayre, 2000 ). Comparisons were made between severity of behavioral measures of stuttering made by the SSI-4 and by age (child/adult). Results Significant differences were obtained for the age comparison but not for the severity comparison. Results are explained in terms of the correlation between severity equivalents of the SSI-4 and the Wright & Ayre Stuttering Self-Rating Profile scores, with clinical implications justifying multi-aspect assessment. Conclusions Clinical implications indicate that self-perception and impact of stuttering must not be assumed and should be evaluated for individual participants. Research implications include further study with a larger subject pool and various levels of stuttering severity.


2020 ◽  
pp. 49-56
Author(s):  
T. Shirshova

Disorders of the musculoskeletal system in school-age children occupy 1-2 places in the structure of functional abnormalities. Cognitive impairment without organic damage to the central nervous system is detected in 30-56% of healthy school children. Along with the increase in the incidence rate, the demand for rehabilitation systems, which allow patients to return to normal life as soon as possible and maintain the motivation for the rehabilitation process, is also growing. Adaptation of rehabilitation techniques, ease of equipment management, availability of specially trained personnel and availability of technical support for complexes becomes important.


2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (12) ◽  
pp. 85-95
Author(s):  
Tung Nguyen Thi Thanh ◽  
Thinh Hoang Thi

The purpose of this study is to build the framework about the influence of families on the formation and personality development of elementary school students in Vietnam. The research results show that there are 5 contents and 5 methods in family education that are commonly used by parents of students in urban areas of Vietnam where economic and social conditions are common. With a traditional Confucian education background, Vietnamese families always give a lot of attention to their children. However, the fact that the “excessive” care of Vietnamese parents negatively affects the personal development of elementary school age children. Besides, the paper contributes to the literature on the role of family education in Vietnam in the development of elementary school student character.


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