Self-reported influenza-like illness and receipt of influenza antiviral drugs during the 2009 pandemic, United States, 2009-2010

M. Biggerstaff, M. Jhung, L. Kamimoto, L. Balluz and L. Finelli

American Journal of Public Health, 2012, vol. 102, issue 10, e21-e26

Abstract: Objectives. The purpose of our study was to more accurately characterize people reporting influenza-like illness (ILI) and evaluate trends in health care seeking and influenza diagnosis and treatment during the 2009 influenza pandemic. Methods. From September 2009 to March 2010, we ascertained ILI (fever with cough or sore throat), health care seeking, and clinical diagnosis and treatment of influenza with influenza antiviral drugs among adults in 51 jurisdictions, and ILI and health care seeking among children in 41 jurisdictions. Results. Among 216 431 adults and 43 511 children, 8.1% and 28.4% reported ILI, respectively. ILI peaked during November interviews and was higher among young people and American Indian/Alaska Natives. Of those with ILI, 40% of adults and 56% of children reported seeking health care; 26% of adults who sought care reported receiving a diagnosis of influenza. Of adults reporting an influenza diagnosis, 36% were treated with influenza antiviral drugs; treatment was highest among adults aged 18 to 49 years. Conclusions. Analysis of ILI data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System enabled a better understanding of the factors associated with selfreported ILI, health care seeking, and clinical influenza diagnosis and treatment, and will help inform year-to-year influenza trends.

Date: 2012
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.2105/AJPH.2012.300651

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2012.300651_9

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300651

Access Statistics for this article

American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia

More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Christopher F Baum ().