[Characteristic features of children subjected to vaccination against influenza--in view of the state of their absence from school during a non-prevalence period].
Characteristic features of children subjected to vaccination against influenza were analyzed in view of the state of their absence from school during a non-prevalence period of this disease. A total of 31,902 children were divided broadly into those with a history of asthma, allergy or cardiac disease [disease history group, 1,048 (3.3%) children] and those without such a history [non-disease history group, 30,854 (96.7%) children]. Each group was further divided into three subgroups according to the number of inoculations (0, 1, 2 inoculations) given during the period between October and November 1988. The three subgroups in each group were compared statistically with regard to the state of absence from school during the non-prevalence period of influenza between April and July 1988, and the following results were obtained. 1. Disease history groups. There was no significant difference among the three subgroups with regard to the rate of absenteeism or mean number of days of absence. Also, no significant difference among them was found in the overall or segmental distribution of days of absence. These findings indicate that the three subgroups of children with a history of disease were almost homogeneous. However, the overall rate of absenteeism was significantly high among children who received one inoculation (p less than 0.001). In this subgroup, the number of children who were absent from school for 21-30 days was greater than that of children who were absent for fewer days. This contributed to the highest overall rate of absenteeism in this subgroup.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Satsuta
K
K
Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon Medical School.
D000041:Absenteeism; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D014611:Vaccination
D007252:Influenza Vaccines