Epidemiological characteristics including seasonal trend of hospital based swine flu cases in Jamnagar region, Gujarat, India
Author(s): Prakash S Gelotar, Kanizfatma Durani, Kapil M Gandha, Mithun M Sanghavi
Abstract
Background: Swine flu is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza virus (H1N1 subtype A). It is a highly contagious virus. If remains undiagnosed & untreated, it causes significant morbidity and mortality and spread in community.
Aim: Primary goal of this study is to identify epidemiological characteristics including seasonal pattern of hospital based patients suspected with H1N1 infection.
Material & Methods: Hospital based study was designed from August 2009 to July 2013 for a 4 years period. A total of 747 throat/ nasopharyngeal/nasal swabs were collected from category C patients and tested by Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) who visited Guru Govind Singh Government Hospital, Jamnagar. Some epidemiological data like age, sex, location etc. were also collected of these cases.
Result: During the 4-year study period, a total of 747 samples were tested and 246 (32.93%) are recorded positive for H1N1. Most numbers of these cases were from young adults (34.55%) in age group between >15-30 years and pediatrics (25.61%) in age group of <15 years. Male (56.91%) were infected more than female (43.09%). Infection rate was higher in urban population (64.22%) than rural population (35.78%). Total two peaks of infection were noticed. One was in rainy season & second was in winter season.
Conclusion: epidemiological parameters and seasonal pattern of swine flu gives ideas to create the awareness and to improve the control strategies to minimize the morbidity & mortality and spread of disease.
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