Influenza vaccine effectiveness against hospitalizations in children and older adults-Data from South America, 2013-2017. A test negative design.

BACKGROUND: In 2013, the Pan American Health Organization established a multi-site, multi-country network to evaluate influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE). We pooled data from five consecutive seasons in five countries to conduct an analysis of southern hemisphere VE against laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalizations in young children and older adults. METHODS: We used a test-negative design to estimate VE against laboratory-confirmed influenza in hospitalized young children (aged 6─24 months) and older adults (aged ≥60 years) in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Paraguay. Following country-specific influenza surveillance protocol, hospitalized persons with severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) at 48 sentinel hospitals (March 2013-December 2017) were tested for influenza virus infection by rRT-PCR. VE was estimated for young children and older adults using logistic random effects models accounting for cluster (country), adjusting for sex, age (months for children, and age-in-year categories for adults), calendar year, country, preexisting conditions, month of illness onset and prior vaccination as an effect modifier for the analysis in adults. RESULTS: We included 8426 SARI cases (2389 children and 6037 adults) in the VE analyses. Among young children, VE against SARI hospitalization associated with any influenza virus was 43% (95%CI: 33%, 51%) for children who received two doses, but was 20% (95%CI: -16%, 45%) and not statistically significant for those who received one dose in a given season. Among older adults, overall VE against SARI hospitalization associated with any influenza virus was 41% (95%CI: 28%, 52%), 45% (95%CI: 34%, 53%) against A(H3N2), 40% (95%CI: 18%, 56%) against A(H1N1)pdm09, and 20% (95%CI: -40%, 54%) against influenza B viruses. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that over the five-year study period, influenza vaccination programs in five South American countries prevented more than one-third of laboratory confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations in young children receiving the recommended two doses and vaccinated older adults.

Retraso del desarrollo del lenguaje en niños de 24 meses en un centro de salud en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires / Language development delay in 24-month-old children at a health care center of the City of Buenos Aires

Introducción. El retraso del desarrollo del lenguaje representa un desafío frecuente para pediatras y otros profesionales. El objetivo principal fue establecer su prevalencia en niñas y niños usuarios de un centro de salud. Población y métodos. Se evaluó el vocabulario expresivo de niñas y niños de 24 meses en un centro de salud utilizando el Inventario de Desarrollo de Habilidades Comunicativas MacArthur-Bates, versión breve (adaptación argentina). Se investigó la asociación entre el retraso del lenguaje y las características demográficas, socioeconómicas, conductuales/emocionales y de estrés parental. En aquellos con retraso expresivo, se evaluó el vocabulario receptivo y se investigaron posibles causas subyacentes (retraso cognitivo no verbal, trastornos del espectro autista, patología del oído medio e hipoacusia). Resultados. Se observó un retraso del desarrollo del lenguaje en 16 de 138 participantes (11,6%; intervalo de confianza -IC- 95%: 6,2-17%), asociado significativamente con antecedentes familiares de retraso del lenguaje, estrés parental y comportamiento problemático. El compromiso del vocabulario receptivo se identificó en 13 de 16 casos con retraso del desarrollo del lenguaje, y 7 presentaron sospecha de trastorno del espectro autista, de retraso global del desarrollo o ambas. Se observó la patología del oído medio en 5 de 9 estudiados. Los 9 participantes a los que se realizó una audiometría no presentaron resultados patológicos de acuerdo con los criterios adoptados en el presente trabajo. Conclusiones. El retraso del desarrollo del lenguaje representa un problema prevalente en nuestra población y se asoció principalmente con problemas de comportamiento y antecedentes familiares de retraso del lenguaje.

Introduction. Language development delay is a frequent challenge for pediatricians and other health care providers. The main objective of this study was to establish its prevalence among children attending a health care center. Population and methods. The expressive vocabulary of 24-month-old children attending a health care center was assessed using the Spanish-language MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories, short form (Argentine version). The association between language delay and demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral/emotional, and parental stress characteristics was analyzed. In children with expressive language delay, receptive vocabulary was assessed and possible underlying causes were studied (non-verbal cognitive delay, autistic spectrum disorders, middle ear pathology, and hearing impairment). Results. Language development delay was observed in 16 out of 138 participants (11.6%; 95% confidence interval: 6.2-17%), significantly associated with a family history of language delay, parental stress, and problem behavior. Receptive vocabulary compromise was identified in 13 out of 16 children with language development delay, and 7 were suspected of autistic spectrum disorder, overall developmental delay, or both. A middle ear pathology was observed in 5 out of 9 studied children. The 9 participants who had an audiometry did not have pathological results based on this study's criteria. Conclusions. Language development delay is a prevalent condition in our population and has been mainly associated with behavioral problems and a family history of language delay.

Language development delay in 24-month-old children at a health care center of the City of Buenos Aires. / Retraso del desarrollo del lenguaje en niños de 24 meses en un centro de salud en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires.

INTRODUCTION: Language development delay is a frequent challenge for pediatricians and other health care providers. The main objective of this study was to establish its prevalence among children attending a health care center. POPULATION AND METHODS: The expressive vocabulary of 24-month-old children attending a health care center was assessed using the Spanish language MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories, short form (Argentine version). The association between language delay and demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral/emotional, and parental stress characteristics was analyzed. In children with expressive language delay, receptive vocabulary was assessed and possible underlying causes were studied (non-verbal cognitive delay, autistic spectrum disorders, middle ear pathology, and hearing impairment). RESULTS: Language development delay was observed in 16 out of 138 participants (11.6%; 95% confidence interval: 6.2-17%), significantly associated with a family history of language delay, parental stress, and problem behavior. Receptive vocabulary compromise was identified in 13 out of 16 children with language development delay, and 7 were suspected of autistic spectrum disorder, overall developmental delay, or both. A middle ear pathology was observed in 5 out of 9 studied children. The 9 participants who had an audiometry did not have pathological results based on this study's criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Language development delay is a prevalent condition in our population and has been mainly associated with behavioral problems and a family history of language delay.

Introducción. El retraso del desarrollo del lenguaje representa un desafío frecuente para pediatras y otros profesionales. El objetivo principal fue establecer su prevalencia en niñas y niños usuarios de un centro de salud. Población y métodos. Se evaluó el vocabulario expresivo de niñas y niños de 24 meses en un centro de salud utilizando el Inventario de Desarrollo de Habilidades Comunicativas MacArthur-Bates, versión breve (adaptación argentina). Se investigó la asociación entre el retraso del lenguaje y las características demográficas, socioeconómicas, conductuales/emocionales y de estrés parental. En aquellos con retraso expresivo, se evaluó el vocabulario receptivo y se investigaron posibles causas subyacentes (retraso cognitivo no verbal, trastornos del espectro autista, patología del oído medio e hipoacusia). Resultados. Se observó un retraso del desarrollo del lenguaje en 16 de 138 participantes (11,6%; intervalo de confianza ­IC­ 95%: 6,2-17%), asociado significativamente con antecedentes familiares de retraso del lenguaje, estrés parental y comportamiento problemático. El compromiso del vocabulario receptivo se identificó en 13 de 16 casos con retraso del desarrollo del lenguaje, y 7 presentaron sospecha de trastorno del espectro autista, de retraso global del desarrollo o ambas. Se observó la patología del oído medio en 5 de 9 estudiados. Los 9 participantes a los que se realizó una audiometría no presentaron resultados patológicos de acuerdo con los criterios adoptados en el presente trabajo. Conclusiones. El retraso del desarrollo del lenguaje representa un problema prevalente en nuestra población y se asoció principalmente con problemas de comportamiento y antecedentes familiares de retraso del lenguaje.

Guía de vigilancia epidemiológica y recomendaciones para la prevención y diagnóstico de las infecciones respiratorias agudas en Argentina / Epidemiological surveillance guide and recommendations for the prevention and diagnosis of acute respiratory infections in Argentina

En este documento se presenta las recomendaciones para el año 2018 con relación a la vigilancia de las infecciones respiratorias agudas (IRAs), recomendaciones de vacunación, diagnóstico etiológico, el uso de antivirales para Influenza e información a la población. Contó con la participación de las áreas del Ministerio de Salud de la Nación involucradas Dirección Nacional de Epidemiología y Análisis de Situación de Salud, Dirección de Maternidad e Infancia, Laboratorio Nacional de Referencia de Virus Respiratorios del INEI-ANLIS, Dirección de Control de Enfermedades Inmunoprevenibles.