Changes in the prevalence of influenza-like illness and influenza vaccine uptake among Hajj pilgrims: A 10-year retrospective analysis of data.

Background: Influenza is an important health hazard among Hajj pilgrims. For the last ten years, pilgrims are being recommended to take influenza vaccine before attending Hajj. Vaccination coverage has increased in recent years, but whether there has been any change in the prevalence of influenza-like illness (ILI) is not known.

Cytomegalovirus-related childhood mortality in Australia 1999-2011.

Aim: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an important cause of congenital infection, which can result in neonatal deaths or contribute to deaths in later childhood. Post-natally acquired CMV is a less common cause of disease and mortality, and only in preterm infants or immunocompromised children. Here we sought to describe CMV as a direct or secondary contributor to childhood mortality in Australia.

Complications of serogroup B meningococcal disease in survivors: a review.

This systematic review evaluates the prevalence of long-term complications of serogroup B meningococcal disease (MD) in light of the recent licensure of a vaccine against meningococcal B disease. Twelve appropriate studies were identified by searching available databases from 1946 to July 2014. The average prevalence of hearing impairment was 4.

A population-based prospective birth cohort study of childhood neurocognitive and psychological functioning in healthy survivors of early life meningitis.

Purpose: To determine neurocognitive, educational, and psychological functioning during childhood and early adolescence among survivors of early life meningitis who are apparently healthy.

Methods: In the general population-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children birth cohort, meningitis exposure was determined at age of 18 months. The outcomes of intelligence quotient, short-term memory, working memory, reading and spelling abilities, psychological and behavioral problems, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and psychotic experiences at ages 9 to 13 years were compared between those exposed and unexposed to meningitis.

Surveillance for congenital rubella in Australia since 1993: cases reported between 2004 and 2013.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of congenital rubella infections notified to the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit (APSU) from 2004 to 2013 and compare that with previously published APSU data for 1993-2003.

Methods: Active national surveillance for congenital rubella infection has been conducted through the APSU since 1993. Monthly reporting by child health clinicians according to pre-defined case criteria triggers requests for clinicians to provide de-identified clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory information.

Surveillance of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in tertiary care hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam during a rubella epidemic.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology and clinical features of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Methods: Prospective surveillance of CRS between May 2011 and March 2012 in Hanoi, Vietnam. CRS burden was assessed by clinical examination and collection of serum samples from infants in neonatology, cardiology and pediatric departments of two tertiary care hospitals in Hanoi.

Infectious causes of sudden infant death syndrome.

Investigators have long suspected the role of infection in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Evidence of infectious associations with SIDS is accentuated through the presence of markers of infection and inflammation on autopsy of SIDS infants and isolates of some bacteria and viruses. Several observational studies have looked into the relation between seasonality and incidence of SIDS, which often showed a winter peak.

Mood, anxiety and psychotic phenomena measure a common psychopathological factor.

Background: Psychotic phenomena are common in the general population but are excluded from diagnostic criteria for mild to moderate depression and anxiety despite their co-occurrence and shared risk factors. We used item response theory modelling to examine whether the co-occurrence of depressive, anxiety and psychotic phenomena is best explained by: (1) a single underlying factor; (2) two separate, uncorrelated factors; (3) two separate yet linked factors; or (4) two separate domains along with an underlying 'common mental distress' (CMD) factor. We defined where, along any latent continuum, the psychopathological items contributed most information.

The Causes and Consequences of Childhood Encephalitis in Asia.

Encephalitis is caused by inflammation and/or infection of the brain. It is a important condition in Asian children in whom it is most frequently caused by Japanese encephalitis virus, associated with a considerable burden of disease. Other common causes in Asia include: enteroviruses (especially enterovirus 71), dengue, influenza, the herpesviruses, measles, mumps and rubella viruses.

Current Burden of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Injecting Drug Users: A Mini Systematic Review of Prevalence Studies.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among injecting drug users (IDUs) is a major public health concern. It is important to know the current burden of HCV infection among IDUs for targeted public health interventions in this high risk population. We systematically reviewed the published literature on prevalence of HCV infections among IDUs between January 1989 and April 2014.

The threat of human influenza: the viruses, disease impacts, and vaccine solutions.

Influenza is an acute respiratory illness that remains an important cause of excessive morbidity and mortality with substantial economic cost to the population. Influenza, being a virus that frequently mutates, is not amenable to elimination. Vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure.

Clinical epidemiology and predictors of outcome in children hospitalised with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in 2009: a prospective national study.

Background: There are few large-scale, prospective studies of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in children that identify predictors of adverse outcomes.

Objectives: We aimed to examine clinical epidemiology and predictors for adverse outcomes in children hospitalised with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in Australia.

Methods: Active hospital surveillance in six tertiary paediatric referral centres (June-September, 2009).

Association of serum interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein in childhood with depression and psychosis in young adult life: a population-based longitudinal study.

Importance: Longitudinal studies have linked the systemic inflammatory markers interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) with the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes mellitus, which are common comorbidities for depression and psychosis. Recent meta-analyses of cross-sectional studies have reported increased serum levels of these inflammatory markers in depression, first-episode psychosis, and acute psychotic relapse; however, the direction of the association has been unclear.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that higher serum levels of IL-6 and CRP in childhood would increase future risks for depression and psychosis.

A population-based longitudinal study of childhood neurodevelopmental disorders, IQ and subsequent risk of psychotic experiences in adolescence.

Background: Schizophrenia has a neurodevelopmental component to its origin, and may share overlapping pathogenic mechanisms with childhood neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs). Nevertheless, longitudinal studies of psychotic outcomes among individuals with NDs are limited. We report a population-based prospective study of six common childhood NDs, subsequent neurocognitive performance and the risk of psychotic experiences (PEs) in early adolescence.

Childhood Epstein-Barr Virus infection and subsequent risk of psychotic experiences in adolescence: a population-based prospective serological study.

Background: Several studies suggest a link between early-life infection and adult schizophrenia. Cross-sectional studies have reported: (1) increased prevalence of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), a member of the Herpesviridae family in schizophrenia; (2) a possible role of Herpes simplex virus in cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia and healthy controls. We report a longitudinal serological study of early-life EBV infection, childhood IQ, and subsequent risk of psychotic experiences (PE) in adolescence.

Mortality from Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infection in Australian Children, 1999-2011 Using National Datasets.

Background: This study examines national childhood HSV mortality data in Australia from 1999-2011. This information is important to better understand the disease burden of HSV in early life and to formulate public health interventions.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) national mortality data from 1999- 2011 in children aged <15 years who died with specific ICD-10 codes for HSV infection listed as an underlying or contributing cause.

Infectious causes of childhood disability: results from a pilot study in rural Bangladesh.

Purpose: To identify the contribution of infectious aetiologies to major childhood disabilities in Bangladesh.

Methods: Active community-based survey was conducted for severe childhood disability using the Key Informants Method between September 2011 and March 2012 in a rural sub-district of Bangladesh.

Results: We screened 1069 children and identified 859 with severe disabilities.

A randomized study of standard versus double dose oseltamivir for treating influenza in the community.

Background: The neuraminidase inhibitors are the treatment of choice for influenza virus infection. Oseltamivir-resistant (OsR) strains of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 are described, but the effect of higher dose oseltamivir on efficacy, safety and emergence of resistance has not been addressed in the developed setting in outpatients. The objectives of the study were to compare standard dose (SD) versus double dose (DD) oseltamivir regimens for frequency of detecting OsR influenza virus, clinical disease resolution, virological clearance and adverse events.

A population-based study of atopic disorders and inflammatory markers in childhood before psychotic experiences in adolescence.

Objective: Schizophrenia is associated with atopy and increased inflammatory markers. We report a population-based longitudinal study of the associations between childhood atopic disorders, subsequent serum inflammatory markers, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), and the risk of psychotic experiences (PEs).

Method: PEs were assessed at age 13 years (n=6785).

Emergence of oseltamivir resistance: control and management of influenza before, during and after the pandemic.

Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs), such as oseltamivir and zanamivir, are the medicines of choice against influenza A or B. Oseltamivir resistance can be conferred by a single point missense mutation from histidine to tyrosine at position 275 (H275Y) of the neuraminidase gene. Oseltamivir resistance in seasonal influenza A/H1N1 strains rose markedly during the 2007-2008 season.

Seroepidemiologic effects of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.

To estimate population attack rates of influenza A(H1N1)pdm2009 in the Southern Hemisphere during June-August 2009, we conducted several serologic studies. We pooled individual-level data from studies using hemagglutination inhibition assays performed in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. We determined seropositive proportions (titer ≥40) for each study region by age-group and sex in pre- and postpandemic phases, as defined by jurisdictional notification data.

Comparing the use of, and considering the need for, lumbar puncture in children with influenza or other respiratory virus infections.

Background: The clinical presentation of influenza in infancy may be similar to serious bacterial infection and be investigated with invasive procedures like lumbar puncture (LP), despite very limited evidence that influenza occurs concomitantly with bacterial meningitis, perhaps because the diagnosis of influenza is very often not established when the decision to perform LP is being considered.

Methods: A retrospective medical record review was undertaken in all children presenting to the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia, in one winter season with laboratory-confirmed influenza or other respiratory virus infections (ORVIs) but excluding respiratory syncytial virus, to compare the use of, and reflect on the need for, the performance of invasive diagnostic procedures, principally LP, but also blood culture, in influenza and non-influenza cases. We also determined the rate of concomitant bacterial meningitis or bacteraemia.

Neurologic complications of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09: surveillance in 6 pediatric hospitals.

Objective: We sought to determine the range and extent of neurologic complications due to pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infection (pH1N1'09) in children hospitalized with influenza.

Methods: Active hospital-based surveillance in 6 Australian tertiary pediatric referral centers between June 1 and September 30, 2009, for children aged <15 years with laboratory-confirmed pH1N1'09.

Results: A total of 506 children with pH1N1'09 were hospitalized, of whom 49 (9.