title: Effect of risk factors on the prevalence of influenza infections among children of slums of Dhaka city.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Influenza viruses may cause severe acute respiratory illness among human population. People of densely populated areas, e.g., slum, are mostly affected by influenza viruses. Although potential vaccines to influenza viruses have been developed, infection rate is still high, therefore, increase the morbidity and mortality rate in slum areas. To treat these infections, slum dwellers including children and mothers do not get proper medication as well as vaccination. Hence, prevention remains to be the only mean to tackle such infections. Herein, we determined the prevalence of influenza infections among nutritionally deprived children and mothers of slum areas in Dhaka city and demonstrated the association with different risk factors like age, gender and socio-economic status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nasopharyngeal swab samples and a short demography of all the participants suffering from influenza-like illness (ILI) were collected. The samples were subjected to RNA extraction and then real-time RT-PCR to detect influenza viruses. Among the ILI patients, about 87.9 % did not have knowledge about influenza infections and 80.5 % did not cover their noses during coughing as well as sneezing. Children were significantly infected by both influenza A and influenza B viruses, suggesting their vulnerability to these infections. Additionally, among the children with ILI, influenza infections were significantly associated with age below or equal to three years, very poor family incomes, practicing unhygienic habits and nutritional deficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that proper vaccination, improved sanitary conditions and nutritional diet may help reduce the risk of influenza infections in slum areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000 Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Sabita Rezwana
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Firoz
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000 Bangladesh ; Department of Microbiology, Jagannath University, Dhaka, 1000 Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ariful
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000 Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majibur Rahman
keywords: Children; Influenza; Nutrition; RT-PCR; Risk factors