Effect of risk factors on the prevalence of influenza infections among children of slums of Dhaka city

Abstract

BackgroundInfluenza 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.ResultsNasopharyngeal 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.ConclusionsThis study suggests that proper vaccination, improved sanitary conditions and nutritional diet may help reduce the risk of influenza infections in slum areas.

Typical epidemiology of respiratory virus infections in a Brazilian slum

“…Hypothetically, virus transmission may be facilitated in these dense populations, characterized by frequent interindividual contact, crowded housing, improper sanitation systems, poor education, and poor nutritional status, exemplified by inversely correlated influenza virus prevalence and family income in a study from Bangladesh. 5 The United Nations define slums as human settlement areas that combine the following attributes: lack of basic services as sanitation and water sources, substandard housing or illegal and inadequate building structures, overcrowding and high density, unhealthy living conditions and hazardous locations, insecure tenure; characterized by irregular or informal settlements, poverty, and social exclusion. 6 Close to 880 million people worldwide reside in urban slums, and this number is expected to double by 2025.…”

“…8 Pivotal epidemiological studies conducted in slum cohorts from Bangladesh and Kenya highlighted the importance of respiratory viruses in these communities. 5,9,10 In Brazil, 11.4 million people, nearly 6% of the country's population live in slums (https://ww2.ibge.gov.br/home/). Data on virus-associated ARI from slum communities, particularly from Brazil, are scarce.…”

Spread of COVID-19 in urban neighbourhoods and slums of the developing world

“…High population density achieved under such conditions, therefore, creates an environment rife for epidemic spread through air or water. Our specific concern relates to the spread of disease through such urban slums, which represent a critical feature of urbanization in developing nations [1], especially in the context of infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19 where viral transmission is aided by increased population density, manifested as more frequent person-to-person contact, crowded housing and unsanitary environments [5,6].…”

Ownership of Mother and Children's Health Book and Complete Basic Immunization Status in Slums and Poor Population

“…7 Increased morbidity and mortality have been observed in measles, diphtheria, influenza and typhoid in slums in South Africa, India. 8 , 9 Bangladesh, 10 , 11 and Kenya. 12 Low immunization coverage for vaccine preventable diseases contributes to poor health outcomes in poor urban populations especially in slums area.…”