Infectious Disease Reports (Jun 2017)

Epidemiology and clinical complication patterns of influenza A (H1N1 virus) in northern Saudi Arabia

  • Kheder Mohamed Altayep,
  • Hussain Gadelkarim Ahmed,
  • Amjad Tallaa a Tallaa,
  • Ahmad Soud Alzayed,
  • Aqeel Jazzaa Alshammari,
  • Ayman Talla Ali Talla

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4081/idr.2017.6930
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 2

Abstract

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The aim of the present study is to describe epidemiologic and clinical presentation, clinical complications and outcomes of patients diagnosed with influenza A infection (H1N1) during a one-year period. We retrospectively investigated 300 patients with influenza-like clinical presentation during the period January 2015 − January 2016 in King Khalid Hospital, Saudi Arabia. Fifty-four patients out of 300 (18%) were diagnosed with H1N1 virus infection; their age ranged from 7 months to 85 years, with a mean age of 25 years. Among them, 34 (63%) were males and 20 (37%) were females, with a M:F ratio of 1.70. The findings of this study show the great spread of influenza A outside the main holy cities of Saudi Arabia, and underline the absolute need for strict prevention strategies including vaccinations, public awareness and hygiene measures.

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