Abstract
Introduction: Several viruses can cause clinical
features similar to influenza. The term ‘influenzalike illness’ is used to describe the clinical features
that can be attributed to infection caused by
influenza and other respiratory viruses. Influenza
infection can result in mild to serious illness,with
significant mortality rates worldwide. Pokhara
Academy of Health Sciences, Western Regional
Hospital, Pokhara is one of the sentinel sites for
human surveillance of influenza in Nepal that is
maintained by Walter Reed/ AFRIMS Research Unit
Nepal (WARUN). The objective of this study is to
analyze demographic and laboratory parameters of
cases of influenza like illness.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective study
was conducted from July 1st 2018– December 31st
2019 at Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences,
Pokhara. Approval for research was obtained from
National Health Research Council, Kathmandu.
Demographic features were noted, temperature
was measured in each case and reports of influenza
tests were recorded. Results: 1213 subjects were
enrolled during study period and 63% were males.
Most patients were in age group <15 years (82.5%)
followed by age group of 16 to 45 years (14.7%).
Average axillary temperature was similar among
both influenza positive and negative population.
Majority (59.2%) tested positive for influenza virus,
of which the most frequent was influenza A (59.9%).
Conclusion: Influenza stands as an important public
health threat. Surveillance of influenza helps in
early warning system, to understand local outbreaks
and to prepare for global pandemics. A larger study
spanning over several years would have been more
informative.
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