title: Seasonal pattern of hospitalization from acute respiratory infections in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
abstract: Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are among the leading causes of childhood morbidity and mortality in Africa. The effects of climatic factors on occurrence of ARIs in the tropics are not clear. During the years 2006-07, we reviewed the clinical registers of the Chantal Biya Foundation (CBF), Yaoundé, Cameroon, paediatric hospital to investigate the association between climatic factors and ARIs in children. Our findings show that rain, high relative humidity and low temperatures are directly associated with an increase in the frequency of hospitalization from ARIs. Given the high frequency of hospitalization from ARIs we suggest that influenza vaccination campaigns should be implemented taking into account the seasonality in Cameroon.
authors.affiliation: University Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Hyppolite Kuekou
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Tchidjou
authors.forename: Fenicia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vescio
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boros
authors.forename: Georgette
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guemkam
authors.forename: Esthelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Minka
authors.forename: Monny
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lobe
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cappelli
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colizzi
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tietche
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rezza
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002980:Climate; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature