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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical measures in preventing pediatric influenza: a case–control study

Authors: Núria Torner, Núria Soldevila, Juan Jose Garcia, Cristian Launes, Pere Godoy, Jesús Castilla, Angela Domínguez, the CIBERESP Cases and Controls in Pandemic Influenza Working Group, Spain

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Hygiene behavior plays a relevant role in infectious disease transmission. The aim of this study was to evaluate non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) in preventing pediatric influenza infections.

Methods

Laboratory confirmed influenza cases occurred during 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons matched by age and date of consultation. NPI (frequency of hand washing, alcohol-based hand sanitizer use and hand washing after touching contaminated surfaces) during seven days prior to onset of symptoms were obtained from parents of cases and controls.

Results

Cases presented higher prevalence of underlying conditions such as pneumonia [OR = 3.23; 95 % CI: 1.38 – 7.58 p = 0.007], asthma [OR = 2.45; 95 % CI: 1.17 – 5.14 p = 0.02] and having more than 1 risk factor [OR = 1.67; 95 % CI: 0.99 – 2.82 p = 0.05]. Hand washing more than 5 times per day [aOR = 0.62; 95 % CI: 0.39 – 0.99 p = 0.04] was the only statistically significant protective factor. When considering two age groups (pre-school age 0–4 yrs and school age 5–17) yrs , only the school age group showed a negative association for influenza infection for both washing more than 5 times per day [aOR = 0.47; 95 % CI: 0.22 – 0.99 p = 0.04] and hand washing after touching contaminated surfaces [aOR = 0.19; 95 % CI: 0.04 – 0.86 p = 0.03].

Conclusion

Frequent hand washing should be recommended to prevent influenza infection in the community setting and in special in the school age group.
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Metadata
Title
Effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical measures in preventing pediatric influenza: a case–control study
Authors
Núria Torner
Núria Soldevila
Juan Jose Garcia
Cristian Launes
Pere Godoy
Jesús Castilla
Angela Domínguez
the CIBERESP Cases and Controls in Pandemic Influenza Working Group, Spain
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1890-3

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