Clinico-Epidemiological Characteristics and Severity of Patients with Influenza Virus in Baghdad, Iraq
Ziyad Hazim Ibrahim, Jawad Kadhim Al-Diwan
Abstract
Introduction: influenza A is most frequent, with more mortality than other types. It is responsible for most seasonal cases and all known pandemics. Aim: to determine the clinico-epidemiological characteristics of Iraqi patients with confirmed influenza. Methods: A cross - sectional study carried out by selecting the confirmed influenza cases in 2 hospitals in Baghdad from Nov. 2021 till Jun. 2022. The data were summarized and analyzed statistically. Results: The total number of patients was 69. All had type A virus. 73.9% aged ≥ 18 years. 46.4% were males. 87% lived in urban areas. 91.3% presented with cough and fever. Small percents of them had hematological disease, immunological disease, asthma, diabetes, chronic renal disease, chronic lung disease, heart disease, muscular disease, or neurological disease. Only 7.2% got influenza vaccine, and 65.2% got COVID-19 vaccine. 97.1% had H3N2 and 2.9% had H1N1pdm09 strain. Conclusions: (1) Most confirmed influenza cases were of a mild grade. (2) Type A was only detected, where the H3N2 subtype constituted most cases. (3) The sex, living area, presence of asthma or an immunological disease were significantly associated with severity. Recommendations: Increasing the coverage of influenza vaccine in Iraq, especially against the influenza A- H3N2 subtype.
Full Text: PDF DOI: 10.15640/ijhs.v11n2a5
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