versão impressa ISSN 2072-8174
VEGA, M E. Epidemiology of Acute Respiratory Infections in the National Hospital of Paraguay in a Outbreak of Pandemic Influenza a H1N1 2009. Rev. Nac. (Itauguá) [online]. 2009, vol.1, n.2, pp. 8-13. ISSN 2072-8174.
SUMMARY Objectives: To describe the epidemiological surveillance of acute respiratory failure in patients hospitalized with suspected A H1N1 influenza, in the National Hospital in 2009. Methods: Descriptive, longitudinal and prospective study, , with suspected influenza A H1N1, with standardized definitions PAHO / WHO, from adult and pediatric patients admitted to National Hospital, from epidemiological week 22 to 35. Source: Review of medical records, Statistics Service daily census, data obtained physicians and patients, active surveillance from immunology laboratory. Results: We included 422 inpatients: 251 adults and 171 children. The age range was from 0 to 87 years with a median of 20 years. There were more women (n = 263). 61% of patients came from the Central Department. There was a rise in the numbers of cases in the epidemiological week 26 and 27 and a more sustained decline since the week 31. In Pediatrics, males had a lower median age than females (p = 0.009). Severe acute respiratory infections was observed in 185 cases (44%). 44 cases required intensive care (10.3%). One hundred patients (23%) had co morbidities. 26 patients died. Conclusions: The acute respiratory infections were predominant in females, with a median of 20 years. The most common age group was 0 to 4 years. The fatality rates for acute respiratory infections were 6%. We confirmed the presence of Influenza A H1N1 in 7 of 35 samples (20%).
Palavras-chave : acute respiratory infection; epidemiological surveillance; Influenza A H1N1.