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The Epidemiology and Health Burdens of Influenza Infections Amongst Hospitalized Children Under 5 Years of Age in Jordan: A National Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Study.

Abu-Helalah, M; Al-Shatnawi, SF; Abu Lubad, M; Al-Zayadneh, E; Al-Hanaktah, M; Harahsheh, M; Al-Iede, M; Nafi, O; Yousef, R; Almaaitah, I; et al. Abu-Helalah, M; Al-Shatnawi, SF; Abu Lubad, M; Al-Zayadneh, E; Al-Hanaktah, M; Harahsheh, M; Al-Iede, M; Nafi, O; Yousef, R; Almaaitah, I; Ababneh, M; AlZubi, T; Abu Mahfouz, R; Adaylah, H; AlHajaj, H; Al Tamimi, M; Drysdale, SB (2024) The Epidemiology and Health Burdens of Influenza Infections Amongst Hospitalized Children Under 5 Years of Age in Jordan: A National Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Study. Vaccines (Basel), 13 (1). p. 12. ISSN 2076-393X https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13010012
SGUL Authors: Drysdale, Simon Bruce

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Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Seasonal influenza is a significant global health concern, causing substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly among high-risk groups such as children under five years old. There is scarce local evidence from developing countries such as Jordan on the burden of influenza, which has limited preventive measures. This multi-center national cross-sectional study aimed to assess the epidemiological and clinical burden of influenza among hospitalized children under five years old in Jordan. METHODS: Data were collected from 1000 participants across four hospitals between November 2022 and April 2023. Nasopharyngeal specimens were analyzed using multiplex RT-PCR to determine positivity for influenza A and B. RESULTS: We found a 9.9% positivity rate, predominantly influenza A (8.4%), while influenza B was positive among 1.5% of the participants. Positivity rates were higher in older age groups, particularly children older than 2 years. Influenza-positive cases exhibited longer fever durations and higher rates of sore throat. There were no positive influenza cases among participants if they or any of their family members received the influenza vaccine, highlighting the vaccine's protective role. Logistic regression analysis identified maternal smoking during pregnancy as a significant predictor of influenza positivity. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study underscore the need for enhanced vaccination efforts and public health policies targeting young children and pregnant women in Jordan. Expanding vaccination uptake could significantly mitigate the burden of influenza and its complications in this vulnerable population.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Keywords: Jordan, below age of five, children, clinical, epidemiology, influenza, influenza, clinical, epidemiology, children, below age of five, Jordan
SGUL Research Institute / Research Centre: Academic Structure > Infection and Immunity Research Institute (INII)
Journal or Publication Title: Vaccines (Basel)
ISSN: 2076-393X
Language: eng
Dates:
DateEvent
26 December 2024Published
24 December 2024Accepted
Publisher License: Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Projects:
Project IDFunderFunder ID
101057MERCK SHARP & DOHME IDEA GmbHUNSPECIFIED
PubMed ID: 39852790
Web of Science ID: WOS:001404510800001
Go to PubMed abstract
URI: https://openaccess.sgul.ac.uk/id/eprint/117121
Publisher's version: https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13010012

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