Author ORCID Identifier
Background: Each year, millions of children get sick with seasonal flu, thousands of children are hospitalized, and some children die from flu. While the U.S. has a comprehensive influenza surveillance system reporting on current flu activity, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes weekly updates on their website (FluView), there is a lack of literature analyzing trends among the virus types causing flu and flu-related hospitalizations among children over multiple flu seasons. This study aimed to identify tends over time (2010-2019) in the proportion of children with lab-confirmed flu and hospitalized for flu, along with the proportion of virus types children are infected with.
Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted using the existing U.S. national influenza surveillance data assembled and provided by the CDC. The study included children in the United States with lab-confirmed flu or with flu-associated hospitalization during the 2010-2011 flu season through the 2018-2019 flu season. Data from hospitalization surveillance and virologic surveillance were analyzed across all 9 flu seasons.
Results: Trends in the proportion of seasonal flu and flu-related hospitalizations among children showed a significant decrease over time (2010-2019). Additionally, trends in the proportion of flu A(H3N2) virus among children showed a significant decrease over time. While this study revealed a strong, positive relationship between the proportion of flu and flu-related hospitalizations among young children (0-4 yr) and older children (5-24 yr), a strong, negative relationship was observed between the proportion of flu and flu-related hospitalizations among children (0-4 yr) and older adults (65+).
Conclusion: A significant decrease in proportion of flu and flu hospitalizations among children was observed over time, revealing a trend of decreased burden of flu among children compared to other age groups. A significant relationship was observed between children and older adults, revealing that as trends of flu among children decreased, trends increased among older adults. Trends in seasonal flu and flu-related complications have important implications for flu prevention and control efforts.
Date of Award
Summer 8-11-2020
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Department
Public Health
First Advisor
Richard Rothenberg, MD, MPH
Second Advisor
Heather Bradley, PhD, MHS
Abstract
Background: Each year, millions of children get sick with seasonal flu, thousands of children are hospitalized, and some children die from flu. While the U.S. has a comprehensive influenza surveillance system reporting on current flu activity, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes weekly updates on their website (FluView), there is a lack of literature analyzing trends among the virus types causing flu and flu-related hospitalizations among children over multiple flu seasons. This study aimed to identify tends over time (2010-2019) in the proportion of children with lab-confirmed flu and hospitalized for flu, along with the proportion of virus types children are infected with.
Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted using the existing U.S. national influenza surveillance data assembled and provided by the CDC. The study included children in the United States with lab-confirmed flu or with flu-associated hospitalization during the 2010-2011 flu season through the 2018-2019 flu season. Data from hospitalization surveillance and virologic surveillance were analyzed across all 9 flu seasons.
Results: Trends in the proportion of seasonal flu and flu-related hospitalizations among children showed a significant decrease over time (2010-2019). Additionally, trends in the proportion of flu A(H3N2) virus among children showed a significant decrease over time. While this study revealed a strong, positive relationship between the proportion of flu and flu-related hospitalizations among young children (0-4 yr) and older children (5-24 yr), a strong, negative relationship was observed between the proportion of flu and flu-related hospitalizations among children (0-4 yr) and older adults (65+).
Conclusion: A significant decrease in proportion of flu and flu hospitalizations among children was observed over time, revealing a trend of decreased burden of flu among children compared to other age groups. A significant relationship was observed between children and older adults, revealing that as trends of flu among children decreased, trends increased among older adults. Trends in seasonal flu and flu-related complications have important implications for flu prevention and control efforts.
Recommended Citation
Mandel, Samantha, "Analysis of Seasonal Influenza Virologic and Hospitalization Trends among Children in the United States from 2010-2019." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2020.
https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/iph_theses/715
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