Influenza Like Illness: 18 months Surveillance at Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: Several viruses can cause clinical features similar to influenza. The term ‘influenzalike illness’ is used to describe the clinical features that can be attributed to infection caused by influenza and other respiratory viruses. Influenza infection can result in mild to serious illness,with significant mortality rates worldwide. Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara is one of the sentinel sites for human surveillance of influenza in Nepal that is maintained by Walter Reed/ AFRIMS Research Unit Nepal (WARUN). The objective of this study is to analyze demographic and laboratory parameters of cases of influenza like illness.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from July 1st 2018– December 31st 2019 at Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, Pokhara. Approval for research was obtained from National Health Research Council, Kathmandu. Demographic features were noted, temperature was measured in each case and reports of influenza tests were recorded.

Results: 1213 subjects were enrolled during study period and 63% were males. Most patients were in age group <15 years (82.5%)
followed by age group of 16 to 45 years (14.7%). Average axillary temperature was similar among both influenza positive and negative population. Majority (59.2%) tested positive for influenza virus, of which the most frequent was influenza A (59.9%).

Conclusion: Influenza stands as an important public health threat. Surveillance of influenza helps in early warning system, to understand local outbreak and to prepare for global pandemics. A larger study spanning over several years would have been more
informative.