Abu-Helalah Munir, Al-Shatnawi Samah F, Abu Lubad Mohammad, Al-Zayadneh Enas, Al-Hanaktah Mohammad, Harahsheh Mea'ad, Al-Iede Montaha, Nafi Omar, Yousef Ruba, Almaaitah Ihsan, Ababneh Mai, AlZubi Toqa, Abu Mahfouz Rand, Adaylah Heba, AlHajaj Hamzeh, Al Tamimi Mohammad, Drysdale Simon B
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Public Health Institute, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan.
Vaccines (Basel). 2024 Dec 26;13(1):12. doi: 10.3390/vaccines13010012.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Seasonal influenza is a significant global health concern, causing substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly among high-risk groups such as children under five years old. There is scarce local evidence from developing countries such as Jordan on the burden of influenza, which has limited preventive measures. This multi-center national cross-sectional study aimed to assess the epidemiological and clinical burden of influenza among hospitalized children under five years old in Jordan.
Data were collected from 1000 participants across four hospitals between November 2022 and April 2023. Nasopharyngeal specimens were analyzed using multiplex RT-PCR to determine positivity for influenza A and B.
We found a 9.9% positivity rate, predominantly influenza A (8.4%), while influenza B was positive among 1.5% of the participants. Positivity rates were higher in older age groups, particularly children older than 2 years. Influenza-positive cases exhibited longer fever durations and higher rates of sore throat. There were no positive influenza cases among participants if they or any of their family members received the influenza vaccine, highlighting the vaccine's protective role. Logistic regression analysis identified maternal smoking during pregnancy as a significant predictor of influenza positivity.
The findings of this study underscore the need for enhanced vaccination efforts and public health policies targeting young children and pregnant women in Jordan. Expanding vaccination uptake could significantly mitigate the burden of influenza and its complications in this vulnerable population.
背景/目的：季节性流感是一个重大的全球卫生问题，会导致大量发病和死亡，尤其是在五岁以下儿童等高危人群中。在约旦等发展中国家，关于流感负担的本地证据很少，这限制了预防措施。这项多中心全国横断面研究旨在评估约旦五岁以下住院儿童中流感的流行病学和临床负担。
2022年11月至2023年4月期间，从四家医院的1000名参与者中收集数据。使用多重逆转录聚合酶链反应（multiplex RT-PCR）分析鼻咽标本，以确定甲型和乙型流感的阳性情况。
我们发现阳性率为9.9%，主要是甲型流感（8.4%），而1.5%的参与者乙型流感呈阳性。年龄较大的组阳性率更高，尤其是两岁以上的儿童。流感阳性病例的发热持续时间更长，喉咙痛的发生率更高。如果参与者本人或其任何家庭成员接种了流感疫苗，则没有流感阳性病例，这突出了疫苗的保护作用。逻辑回归分析确定孕期母亲吸烟是流感阳性的一个重要预测因素。
本研究结果强调，约旦需要加强针对幼儿和孕妇的疫苗接种工作及公共卫生政策。扩大疫苗接种率可显著减轻这一脆弱人群中流感及其并发症的负担。
