scholarly journals Usefulness of Clinical Definitions of Influenza for Public Health Surveillance Purposes

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Domínguez ◽  
Soldevila ◽  
Torner ◽  
Martínez ◽  
Godoy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Sudden Onset ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Sentinel Surveillance ◽  
World Health ◽  
Case Definitions ◽  
Surveillance Network ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics

This study investigated the performance of various case definitions and influenza symptoms in a primary healthcare sentinel surveillance system. A retrospective study of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the cases reported by a primary healthcare sentinel surveillance network for eleven years in Catalonia was conducted. Crude and adjusted diagnostic odds ratios (aDORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the case definitions and symptoms for all weeks and epidemic weeks were estimated. The most predictive case definition for laboratory-confirmed influenza was the World Health Organization (WHO) case definition for ILI in all weeks (aDOR 2.69; 95% CI 2.42–2.99) and epidemic weeks (aDOR 2.20; 95% CI 1.90–2.54). The symptoms that were significant positive predictors for confirmed influenza were fever, cough, myalgia, headache, malaise, and sudden onset. Fever had the highest aDOR in all weeks (4.03; 95% CI 3.38–4.80) and epidemic weeks (2.78; 95% CI 2.21–3.50). All of the case definitions assessed performed better in patients with comorbidities than in those without. The performance of symptoms varied by age groups, with fever being of high value in older people, and cough being of high value in children. In patients with comorbidities, the performance of fever was the highest (aDOR 5.45; 95% CI 3.43–8.66). No differences in the performance of the case definition or symptoms in influenza cases according to virus type were found.

scholarly journals Performance of influenza case definitions for influenza community surveillance: based on the French influenza surveillance network GROG, 2009-2014

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Sebastien Casalegno ◽  
Daniel Eibach ◽  
Martine Valette ◽  
Vincent Enouf ◽  
Isabelle Daviaud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Infection ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
World Health ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Case Definitions ◽  
Surveillance Network ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Influenza Case ◽  
Health Organization

International case definitions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) are commonly used for influenza surveillance. We evaluated clinical factors associated with the laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of influenza and the performance of these influenza case definitions by using a complete dataset of 14,994 patients with acute respiratory infection (ARI) from whom a specimen was collected between August 2009 and April 2014 by the Groupes Régionaux d’Observation de la Grippe (GROG), a French national influenza surveillance network. Cough and fever ≥ 39 °C most accurately predicted an influenza infection in all age groups. Several other symptoms were associated with an increased risk of influenza (headache, weakness, myalgia, coryza) or decreased risk (adenopathy, pharyngitis, shortness of breath, otitis/otalgia, bronchitis/ bronchiolitis), but not throughout all age groups. The WHO case definition for influenza-like illness (ILI) had the highest specificity with 21.4%, while the ECDC ILI case definition had the highest sensitivity with 96.1%. The diagnosis among children younger than 5 years remains challenging. The study compared the performance of clinical influenza definitions based on outpatient surveillance and will contribute to improving the comparability of data shared at international level.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of Acute Flaccid Paralysis in Hormozgan Province, Iran

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 86-90
Author(s):  
Ali Reza Moayedi ◽  
Ahmadagha Negahi ◽  
Seyed Hossein Asadi Yousefabad ◽  
Seyed Hossein Saadat ◽  
Mojtaba Salari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Flaccid Paralysis ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Sudden Onset ◽  
The Body ◽  
Flaccid Paralysis ◽  
World Health ◽  
Bandar Abbas ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Vaccination Campaigns

Background: Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is a syndrome that occurs with the sudden onset of paralysis in any part of the body of infants and children under 15 years old. This study investigated the epidemiology and causes of AFP in patients under 15 years of age admitted to hospitals in Hormozgan province during 2011-2018. Materials and Methods: After receiving the code of ethics, the information of the studied patients was collected by referring to the health center of Hormozgan province and reviewing their records. The corresponding data were gathered using a checklist that included the causes of paralysis, age, gender, place of residence, and involved organs and then analyzed with SPSS software. Results: Out of 121 patients, 58.7% were males. In addition, 69.4% and 21.5% of these patients were in the age groups of 0-5 and 5-10 years, and the remaining cases were in the age group of 10-15 years. In terms of accommodation, 19.8% and 14.9% of patients lived in Bandar Abbas and Minab, respectively. The highest incidence of the disease was 19% and 18.2% in 2013 and 2015, respectively. The most affected organ was 57% of both feet. The most common cause of AFP in this study was Guillain-Barre syndrome (37.2%), followed by transient synovitis (17.4%). Conclusion: Considering the high annual incidence of this disease compared to the standard of the World Health Organization, it is recommended to launch training and vaccination campaigns to reduce the incidence and eradicate this disease.

scholarly journals The clinical spectrum of COVID-19: A population-based cohort study in Iceland

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elias Eythorsson ◽  
Dadi Helgason ◽  
Ragnar Freyr Ingvarsson ◽  
Helgi K Bjornsson ◽  
Lovisa Bjork Olafsdottir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Clinical Spectrum ◽  
World Health ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Case Definitions ◽  
Presenting Symptoms ◽  
Health Organization

Background: Previous studies on the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 have generally been limited to hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to describe the complete clinical spectrum of COVID-19, based on a nationwide cohort with extensive diagnostic testing and a rigorous contact tracing approach. Methods: A population-based cohort study examining symptom progression using prospectively recorded data on all individuals with a positive test (RT-PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) who were enrolled in a telehealth monitoring service provided to all identified cases in Iceland. Symptoms were systematically monitored from diagnosis to recovery. Results: From January 31 to April 30, 2020, a total of 45,105 individuals (12% of the Icelandic population) were tested for SARS-CoV-2, of whom 1797 were positive, yielding a population incidence of 5 per 1000 individuals. The most common presenting symptoms were myalgia (55%), headache (51%), and non-productive cough (49%). At the time of diagnosis, 5.3% of cases reported no symptoms and 3.1% remained asymptomatic during follow-up. In addition, 216 patients (13.8%) and 349 patients (22.3%) did not meet the case definition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, respectively. The majority (67.5%) of patients had mild symptoms throughout the course of the disease. Conclusion: In the setting of broad access to diagnostic testing, the majority of SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were found to have mild symptoms. Fever and dyspnea were less common than previously reported. A substantial proportion of patients did not meet recommended case definitions at the time of diagnosis.

scholarly journals A decade of plague in Madagascar: a description of two hotspot districts

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sitraka Rakotosamimanana ◽  
Daouda Kassie ◽  
François Taglioni ◽  
Josélyne Ramamonjisoa ◽  
Fanjasoa Rakotomanana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Definition ◽  
World Health ◽  
Standard Case ◽  
Epidemiological Features ◽  
System Data ◽  
Central Highlands ◽  
One Year ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics ◽  
National Surveillance System

Abstract Background Human plague cases, mainly in the bubonic form, occur annually in endemic regions of the central highlands of Madagascar. The aim of this study was to compare the dynamics of the epidemiological features of the human plague in two districts of the central highlands region. Methods In Madagascar, all clinically suspected plague cases that meet clinical and epidemiological criteria specified in the World Health Organization (WHO) standard case definition are reported to the national surveillance system. Data on plague cases reported between 2006 and 2015 in the districts of Ambositra and Tsiroanomandidy were analysed. Statistical comparisons between the epidemiological characteristics of the two districts were conducted. Results A total of 840 cases of plague were reported over the studied period, including 563 (67%) probable and confirmed cases (P + C). Out of these P + C cases, nearly 86% (488/563) were cases of bubonic plague. Reported clinical forms of plague were significantly different between the districts from 2006 to 2015 (p = 0.001). Plague cases occurred annually in a period of 10 years in the Tsiroanomandidy district. During the same period, the Ambositra district was characterized by a one-year absence of cases. Conclusion The differences in the epidemiological situation with respect to the plague from 2006 to 2015 in the two central highlands districts may suggest that several factors other than biogeographical factors determine the representation of the plague and its dynamics in this region. Considering the epidemiological situations according to the specific contexts of the districts could improve the results in the fight against the plague in Madagascar.

scholarly journals A Decade of Plague in Madagascar: A Description of Two Hot Spot Districts

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sitraka Rakotosamimanana ◽  
Daouda Kassie ◽  
François Taglioni ◽  
Josélyne Ramamonjisoa ◽  
Fanjasoa Rakotomanana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hot Spot ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
World Health ◽  
Standard Case ◽  
Central Highland ◽  
System Data ◽  
Central Highlands ◽  
One Year ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics

Abstract Background Human plague cases, mainly the bubonic form, occur annually in the endemic regions of the central highlands of Madagascar. The aim of the study is to compare the evolution of the epidemiological features of human plague in two districts of the central highlands.Methods In Madagascar, all clinically suspected plague cases that meet clinical and epidemiological criteria specified in the World health organization standard case definition are reported to the national surveillance system. Data on plague cases reported between 2006 and 2015 in the districts of Ambositra and Tsiroanomandidy were analyzed. Statistical comparisons between the epidemiological characteristics of the two districts were conducted. Results A total of 840 cases were reported over the period studied, including 563 (67%) probable and confirmed cases (C+P). Of these C+P cases, nearly 91% (488/536) were cases of bubonic plague. Reported clinical forms of plague were significant for both districts during 2006 to 2015 (p=0.001). Plague cases occurred annually in a period of 10 years in Tsiroanomandidy district. One year of absence of cases characterized Ambositra district during the same period. Conclusion The differences in the epidemiological situation with respect to the plague from 2006 to 2015 in the two central highland districts may suggest that several factors other than biogeographical factors determine the expression of the plague and its evolution in this region. The need to take into account epidemiological situations according to the specific contexts of the districts could improve results in the fight against the plague in Madagascar.

scholarly journals Demographics and Epidemiology of Hepatitis B in the State of Qatar: A Five-Year Surveillance-Based Incidence Study

Pathogens ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
Hamad E. Al Romaihi ◽  
Nandakumar Ganesan ◽  
Elmoubasher A. Farag ◽  
Maria K. Smatti ◽  
Gheyath K. Nasrallah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Cdc Guidelines ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics

Background: Expatriates represent >80% of Qatar’s population, mostly arriving from countries in Africa and Asia that are endemic with many diseases. This increases the risk for introducing new pathogens into the country and provides a platform for maintenance of endemic pathogen circulation. Here, we report on the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis B in Qatar between 2010 and 2014. Methods: We performed a retrospective epidemiological data analysis using the data available at the surveillance system of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in Qatar. Data were collected from distinctive public and private incorporates around the nation. Reported cases of hepatitis B patients represent those who met the stringent case definition as per World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and eventually reported to MOPH. Results: The annual incidence rates of hepatitis B cases were 30.0, 34.2, 30.5, 39.4, and 19.8 per 100,000 population in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively. There was no specific trend or seasonality for the reported cases. The incidence rates were higher in females compared to males between 2010 and 2012, but similar in 2013 and 2014. The highest incidence rates were reported among individuals between 25 and 34 years of age. No cases were reported in children younger than five years in 2013 and 2014. Rates of hepatitis B cases declined dramatically in 2014, in both Qataris and non-Qataris, as compared to the previous years. Conclusion: Our results indicate a dramatic decline of hepatitis B cases in Qatar but mandate improved surveillance and vaccination efforts in expatriates in the nation.

scholarly journals COVID-19 case definitions, diagnostic testing criteria, and surveillance across the pandemic's 25 highest burden countries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amitabh Suthar ◽  
Sara Schubert ◽  
Julie Garon ◽  
Alexia Couture ◽  
Amy Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
World Health ◽  
Case Definitions ◽  
Microsoft Excel ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Suspect Case ◽  
Testing Criteria

Objective: We compared suspect, probable, and confirmed case definitions, as well as diagnostic testing criteria, used in the COVID-19 pandemic's 25 highest burden countries to aid interpretation of global and national surveillance data. Methods: We identified the COVID-19 pandemic's 25 countries with the highest disease burden based on the number of cumulative reported cases to the World Health Organization (WHO) as of 1 October 2020. We searched official websites of these countries for suspect, probable, and confirmed case definitions. Given that confirmation of COVID-19 usually requires diagnostic testing, we also searched for diagnostic testing eligibility criteria in these countries. Extracted case definitions and testing criteria were managed in a database and analyzed in Microsoft Excel. Findings: We identified suspect, probable, and confirmed case definitions in 96%, 64%, and 100% of countries, respectively. Testing criteria were identified in 100% of countries. 56% of identified countries followed WHO recommendations for using a combination of clinical and epidemiological criteria as part of the suspect case definition. 75% of identified countries followed WHO recommendations on using clinical, epidemiological, and diagnostic criteria for probable cases. 72% of countries followed WHO recommendations on using PCR testing for confirming a case of COVID-19. Finally, 64% of countries used testing eligibility criteria at least as permissive as WHO. Conclusion: There is marked heterogeneity in who is eligible for testing in countries and how countries define a case of COVID-19. This affects the ability to compare burden, transmission, and response impact estimates derived from case surveillance data across countries.

scholarly journals Clinical spectrum of coronavirus disease 2019 in Iceland: population based cohort study

BMJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. m4529
Author(s):  
Elias Eythorsson ◽  
Dadi Helgason ◽  
Ragnar Freyr Ingvarsson ◽  
Helgi K Bjornsson ◽  
Lovisa Bjork Olafsdottir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Population Screening ◽  
World Health ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Case Definitions ◽  
Presenting Symptoms ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Objective To characterise the symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19). Design Population based cohort study. Setting Iceland. Participants All individuals who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) between 17 March and 30 April 2020. Cases were identified by three testing strategies: targeted testing guided by clinical suspicion, open invitation population screening based on self referral, and random population screening. All identified cases were enrolled in a telehealth monitoring service, and symptoms were systematically monitored from diagnosis to recovery. Main outcome measures Occurrence of one or more of 19 predefined symptoms during follow-up. Results Among 1564 people positive for SARS-CoV-2, the most common presenting symptoms were myalgia (55%), headache (51%), and non-productive cough (49%). At the time of diagnosis, 83 (5.3%) individuals reported no symptoms, of whom 49 (59%) remained asymptomatic during follow-up. At diagnosis, 216 (14%) and 349 (22%) people did not meet the case definition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, respectively. Most (67%) of the SARS-CoV-2-positive patients had mild symptoms throughout the course of their disease. Conclusion In the setting of broad access to RT-PCR testing, most SARS-CoV-2-positive people were found to have mild symptoms. Fever and dyspnoea were less common than previously reported. A substantial proportion of SARS-CoV-2-positive people did not meet recommended case definitions at the time of diagnosis.

An approach to the understanding of the clinical-etiopathological aspect of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2)

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 862-869
Author(s):  
Meena Kumari ◽  
Monika Agrawal ◽  
Rakesh Kumar Singh ◽  
Parameswarappa S Byadgi
Keyword(s):  
World Health ◽  
Apical Surface ◽  
Therapy Assessment ◽  
Differentiated Cells ◽  
The World ◽  
Polarized Epithelia ◽  
Well Differentiated ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics

Currently, the world is facing a health and socioeconomic crisis caused by the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19. On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this disease as a pandemic. The condition (COVID-19) is an infectious disorder triggered by a newly discovered severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2. Most of the COVID-19 infected patients will experience mild to moderate respiratory symptoms and recover without any unique therapy. Assessment of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 cases suggests the infected patients will not be contagious until the onset of severe symptoms and affects the other organs. Well-differentiated cells of apical airway epithelia communicating with ACE2 were promptly infected to SARS-CoV-2 virus. But the expression of ACE 2 in poorly differentiated epithelia facilitated SARS spike (S) protein-pseudo typed virus entry and it is replicated in polarized epithelia and especially exited via the apical surface. Limiting the transmission of COVID-19 infection & its prevention can be regarded as a hierarchy of controls. In this article, we briefly discuss the most recent advances in respect to aetiology, pathogenesis and clinical progression of the disease COVID-19.

scholarly journals Secular Trends of Underweight, Overweight, and Obesity in Children and Adolescents from Ukraine

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3302
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Dereń ◽  
Justyna Wyszyńska ◽  
Serhiy Nyankovskyy ◽  
Olena Nyankovska ◽  
Marta Yatsula ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
The Body ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Obesity In Children

Overweight and obesity, as well as underweight in children and adolescents, pose a significant public health issue. This study aimed to investigate the secular trend of the incidence of underweight, overweight, and obesity in children from Ukraine in 2013/2014 and 2018/2019. The studies were conducted in randomly selected primary and secondary schools in Ukraine. In total, 13,447 children (6468 boys and 6979 girls) participated in the study in 2013/2014 and 18,144 children (8717 boys and 9427 girls) participated in 2018/2019. Measurements of body weight and height were performed in triplicate. Underweight, overweight, and obesity were diagnosed according to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO). In the group of girls, a significant difference between 2013/2014 and 2018/2019 measurements was found only among 7-year-olds. The percentage of girls at this age exceeding the body mass index (BMI) norm was lower in the 2018/2019 study. In boys, a significant difference was also found in 7-year-olds, and, as in girls, a lower share of overweight and obesity was found in 2018/2019. But for the ages of 12, 13, and 15, the significant differences had a different character—more overweight or obese boys were found in the 2018/2019 study. The proportion of underweight children was similar for the majority of age groups in both genders and did not differ in a statistically significant way.

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