Influenza infection increases from October to March

The Abu Dhabi Health Services Society (HEHA) health conference has revealed for the 13th year in a row the results of the first influenza study in the region, conducted in Al Ain for five years. The flu season in the UAE runs from October to March.

The study, supervised by Dr. Alia Al-Ali, a pediatrician at Tawam Hospital, revealed that the highest infection rate was in 2017 and reached 33% of the cases studied. received influenza vaccine and 80.2% with influenza A and 19.8% with influenza B.

And one-third of the wounded had to be hospitalized for treatment. In addition, 70% of injuries involved children aged 11 years. Tests have shown that the influenza virus continues to develop and can cause serious illness, especially in young children.

Dr. Alia Al-Ali explained that the study had started in 2012 and continued until 2017. It included a study of 1,395 cases, of which 927 children had accessed health care services. emergency, and 468 requiring hospitalization for treatment.

The most common flu-like complications were pneumonia, acute middle ear inflammation, and all cases of complications were first characterized by severe breathing difficulties leading to a failure of the functions of some organs.

During the pediatric innovation symposium, Dr. Howard Podolski reviewed a new children's ventilator withdrawal program, which involves training children to return to normal life after exposure to drowning, malformations or to road accidents.