title: Incidence and Seasonality of Influenza-Like Illnesses Among Pregnant Women in Blantyre, Malawi.
abstract: Pregnant women with influenza infection are at increased risk of developing complications compared with other adults. Information about burden of influenza in pregnant women in Africa is limited. To determine incidence and seasonality of influenza-like illness (ILI) in pregnant women in Blantyre, Malawi, we recruited a cohort of 450 pregnant women and conducted surveillance for ILI and malaria infection. We recorded gestational age and birthweight. We accrued 157 person-years of observation (PYO) and detected 37 episodes of ILI (24/100 PYO) and 83 episodes of malaria infection (including all new episodes of parasitemia) (53/100 PYO). ILI was the most common cause of fever, but was not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. ILI incidence peaked during the hot dry season. These results indicate that ILI is a significant burden among Malawian pregnant women and it is somewhat seasonal. Studies with molecular diagnostics are needed to establish influenza-specific burden and the potential role of vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Blantyre Malaria Project, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors.forename: Titus H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Divala
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kalilani-Phiri
authors.affiliation: Blantyre Malaria Project, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mawindo
authors.affiliation: Blantyre Malaria Project, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors.forename: Osward
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nyirenda
authors.affiliation: Malaria Alert Centre, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors.forename: Atupele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kapito-Tembo
authors.affiliation: Institute for Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. mlaufer@medicine.umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Miriam K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Laufer
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines