title: Influenza-like illness among university students: symptom severity and duration due to influenza virus infection compared to other etiologies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  University students with influenza-like illness (ILI) were assessed to determine whether symptom severity, duration, or missed days of school or work varied according to etiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty persons presenting to a university health clinic with ILI symptoms during 3 consecutive influenza seasons completed baseline survey and viral testing; 51 (85%) completed follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Influenza viral culture and polymerase chain reaction and respiratory virus immunofluorescence assay testing were performed. Information collected at baseline and follow-up included symptom occurrence, severity, duration, and numbers of days of work and school missed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Influenza virus was confirmed in 63% of participants. Influenza-positive individuals were no more likely to report any symptom or miss more days of school or work. Self-reported severity and durations of symptoms were similar between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students with influenza-associated ILI were similar to those with noninfluenza ILI with respect to severity, duration, and numbers of days of school and work missed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Jocelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mullins
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rinaldo
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yablonsky
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piazza
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000295:Adolescent Medicine; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult