title: Influence of school closure on the incidence of viral respiratory diseases among children and on health care utilization.
abstract: We evaluated the effect of school closure on the occurrence of respiratory infection among children ages 6-12 years and its impact on health care services. During this period, there were significant decreases in the diagnoses of respiratory infections (42%), visits to physician (28%) and emergency departments (28%) and medication purchases (35%). The present study provides quantitative data to support school closure during an influenza pandemic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Maccabi Healthcare Services, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heymann
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chodick
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reichman
authors.forename: Ehud
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kokia
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laufer
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*