title: Oculo-respiratory syndrome: a new influenza vaccine-associated adverse event?
abstract: During the 2000-2001 influenza immunization campaign in Canada, a new adverse event, oculo-respiratory syndrome (ORS), was noted in association with administration of vaccine supplied by one manufacturer. The original case definition for ORS specified bilateral conjunctivitis, facial edema, or respiratory symptoms beginning 2-24 h after influenza vaccination and resolving within 48 h after onset. To characterize the spectrum, severity, and impact of ORS, we contacted persons who had reported any influenza vaccine-associated adverse event in British Columbia, Canada, during the 2000-2001 vaccination campaign. With use of a standardized telephone interview, we collected information from 609 (79%) of 769 eligible persons. Thirteen percent of ORS-affected persons reported onset <or=2 h after vaccination, 27% experienced symptoms for >48 h, and 42% considered the symptoms to be severe. The surveillance case definition for ORS for 2001-2002 was revised to include onset <or=24 h after vaccination, with no restriction on duration. ORS should be incorporated into annual influenza vaccine safety monitoring.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. danuta.skowronski@bccdc.ca
authors.forename: Danuta M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Skowronski
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Gaston
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Serres
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Marion
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naus
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: Perry
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kendall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines