CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INFLUENZA IN CHILDREN RESIDING IN THE ASTRAKHAN REGION

Abstract

Objective: To study the clinical and epidemiological features of influenza in children of the Astrakhan region in 2016-2020 Methods: During the analyzed period, 1,276,150 patients with infectious and non-infectious diseases were registered on the territory of the Astrakhan region, of which 1,202,553 cases (94.2%) were infectious and parasitic diseases. The share of children in the structure of the general infectious and parasitic morbidity of the population of the Astrakhan region for the period of 2016-2020 amounted to 897,094 cases (74.6%), of which 844,299 patients (94.1%) developed influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI), including influenza – 3,663 cases (0.4%) and other acute respiratory viral infections – 840,636 cases (99.6%). Results: Influenza cases were registered in children of different ages both in the urban and rural districts of the Astrakhan region (3,405 cases – 93%, and 258 cases – 7% respectively). Influenza in children living in the Astrakhan region were registered in nine districts: Volodarsky, Ikryaninsky, Kamyzyaksky, Krasnoyarsky, Limansky, Narimanovskaya, Volga, Kharabalinsky districts and the city of Znamensk. In all cases, the children complained of weakness and fatigue. Most of the children (n=3,387; 92.5%) complained of fever up to 38-39ºС, sore throat (n=3,198; 87.3%), runny nose and nasal congestion (n=3,254; 88.8 %), headache (n=3,127; 85.4%). Myalgia and arthralgia were observed in 2,551 (69.6%) children. In rare cases, there were complaints of vomiting and diarrhea – in 233 (6.4%) and 474 (12.9%) children, respectively. The smallest number of cases of influenza was registered in children aged 5 to 12 months – 261 cases (7.1%); among children aged 1-7 years there were 2,145 cases (58.6%), and from 7 to 17 years – 1,257 cases (34.3%). Sore throat in most children (n=3,198; 93.9%) persisted for 3 to 5 days. A complicated course of influenza was not observed. Conclusion: Children of all age groups are susceptible to influenza, but most often children aged 1 to 7 years are affected. Influenza was recorded most often in children living in urban areas. Complaints of children with influenza corresponded to those described in the literature.

Keywords

• influenza
• children
• schoolchildren
• preschoolers
• myalgia
• arthralgia
• fever
• nasal congestion.