Epidemiological and clinical features of seasonal influenza in the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

Introduction. On average, influenza viruses infect 5-10% of the human population each year, these percentages can be considerably higher in certain geographical areas or age groups with loss of life and considerable economic costs during annual epidemics and pandemics. Material and methods. Form 2, Epidemiological Bulletin of Infectious Diseases, files of 28 patients who were hospitalized and diagnosed with influenza during the years 2020-2021 at the Municipal Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases of Children. Purpose. Retrospective analysis of multiannual influenza morbidity, as well as the study of the clinical-epidemiological peculiarities of influenza patients hospitalized within the Municipal Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases of Children. Results. The average level of influenza morbidity during the years 2004-2021 was higher in urban areas, compared to rural areas, being 138.23 %oo and 36.47 %oo, respectively. Children were more frequently affected by the flu - 262.69 %oo, compared to an average morbidity of 98.66 %oo among adults. Most frequently, children with influenza were hospitalized on the second day of the disease - 53.57%, followed by hospitalization on the third day of illness - 21.43% and only 14.29% on the first day of the disease, which shows that in most cases the disease already worsens on the second day of the disease. Conclusions.

Influenza is an infection that mainly affects the urban population, especially children. Hospitalization of children as soon as possible prevents the complication of the disease and simplifies treatment.