A HOUSEHOLD SURVEY TO ASSESS THE BURDEN OF INFLUENZA IN RURAL THAILAND

摘要

Little is known about the disease burden of influenza in middle-income tropical countries like Thailand, The recent outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) and studies on influenza from neighboring countries highlight the need for data on incidence, access to care, and health care cost In May/ June 2003, we conducted a province-wide household survey using two-stage cluster sampling to determine the burden of influenza-like illness in Sa Kaeo Province, We used the total number of reported influenza that occurred in May 2003 and a prospective study of outpatient influenza in clinic patients to develop an estimate of the annualized incidence of influenza. Of 718 subjects, 16 (2,2%) suffered an episode of influenza-like illness in the preceding month; 14 sought care, of whom 7 went to a hospital facility. Fifty percent reported missing on average 3 days of work or school. The total individual cost per illness episode was 663 baht (US