title: Incidence patterns of respiratory illness in Queensland estimated from sentinel general practice.
abstract: Incidence rates of six respiratory infections were calculated from sentinel practice data of 33,407 reports coming from 31 general practitioners in Queensland over 34 months in 1986/1988. Upper respiratory tract infection had an annual incidence of 301 per 1000 people, most in children aged under five, and a winter rate twice the summer rate. Sore throat (incidence 112:1000) and Infectious mononucleosis (incidence 2.7:1000) had little seasonal variation and were maximal among those aged 15-19 (in whom there was one case of Infectious mononucleosis for every 14 sore throats). Influenza (incidence 44:1000) underwent a prominent epidemic in the winter of 1988. Measles (incidence 1.9:1000), and pertussis and pertussis-like syndrome (incidence 0.8:1000) were most commonly reported in the under-fives, and rarely among adults. Sentinel practices networks collect useful epidemiological data from which disease incidences can be calculated.
authors.affiliation: General Practice Unit, University of Queensland Medical School, Herston.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del Mar
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pincus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance