Hospitalised patients with Influenza A (H1N1) in the Royal Hospital, Oman Experience of a tertiary care hospital, July–December 2009
Journal Title: Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal - Year 2010, Vol 10, Issue 3
Abstract
Te aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics, risk factors, laboratory investigations and outcome of hospitalised patients with positive Influenza A (H1N1) at the Royal Hospital in Oman. Methods: We extracted data from the retrospective medical charts, radiological and laboratory fndings of 131 patients who were confrmed as positive for Influenza A (H1N1) by real-time reverse-transcriptasepolymerase-chain-reaction from 21 July to 23 December 2009. Results: Te median age was 24 years with 34.4% in the paediatric age group. Most (63%) of hospitalised patients were female. Symptoms at presentation included mainly fever (93.9%) and respiratory symptoms (89.3%). 83% of the patients had at least one risk factor and pregnancy was the most common associated condition (22.9%). Most of the patients had reduced lymphocytic count (57.3%) and high levels of serum C-reactive protein, aspartate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase (75.7%, 75% and 70.8% respectively). Te majority of the patients (64.5%) had evidence of pneumonia and radiological fndings constituted mainly bi-lateral infltrates (60.6%). Antiviral therapy was administered to 95.4% of the patients who mostly received it 48 hours after disease onset. Death occurred in 6.9% of patients. Out of these, 88.9% required Intensive Care Unit (ICU) care and mechanical ventilation. Conclusion: Influenza A (H1N1) infection mainly affected those of younger age and females. Associated medical conditions were common, with pregnancy being interestingly the commonest risk factor. Te infection caused severe illness that required ICU admission and led to death in 6.9% of patients.
Authors and Affiliations
Jalila Al-Lawati| Department of Microbiology, Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman, Nada Al-Tamtami| Department of Microbiology, Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman, Ahmed Al-Qasmi| Department of Epidemiology, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman, Amina Al-Jardani| Department of Microbiology, Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman, Saif Al-Abri| Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman, Sulaiman Al Busaidy| Central Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman
Keywords
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