TY - JOUR
T1 - Burden of upper respiratory illnesses among college and university students
T2 - 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 cohorts
AU - Nichol, Kristin L
AU - D'Heilly, S.
AU - Ehlinger, E.
PY - 2006/11/10
Y1 - 2006/11/10
N2 - Upper respiratory illnesses, including colds and influenza-like illnesses, are common among college and university students. We have established an ongoing, serial cohort study to assess the occurrences of these illnesses among college and university students as well as the impact of these illnesses on overall health, school and work performance, and health care use. In this paper we report on the first 2 years of this study (2002-2003 and 2003-2004). For each year, more than 4000 students responded to the e-mail invitations to participate, and they provided more than 3000 person-seasons of follow-up information during the monthly surveys conducted November-April. In both years, colds and influenza-like illnesses were common and associated with significant numbers of bed days, reduced activity days, school and work loss, impaired school performance, and increased health care utilization. Efforts to prevent upper respiratory illnesses among college and university students could improve their health and reduce health care utilization during the winter months.
AB - Upper respiratory illnesses, including colds and influenza-like illnesses, are common among college and university students. We have established an ongoing, serial cohort study to assess the occurrences of these illnesses among college and university students as well as the impact of these illnesses on overall health, school and work performance, and health care use. In this paper we report on the first 2 years of this study (2002-2003 and 2003-2004). For each year, more than 4000 students responded to the e-mail invitations to participate, and they provided more than 3000 person-seasons of follow-up information during the monthly surveys conducted November-April. In both years, colds and influenza-like illnesses were common and associated with significant numbers of bed days, reduced activity days, school and work loss, impaired school performance, and increased health care utilization. Efforts to prevent upper respiratory illnesses among college and university students could improve their health and reduce health care utilization during the winter months.
KW - Colds
KW - Influenza
KW - Respiratory illness
KW - University students
KW - Vaccination
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33846235572&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.05.033
DO - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.05.033
M3 - Article
C2 - 16876292
AN - SCOPUS:33846235572
SN - 0264-410X
VL - 24
SP - 6724
EP - 6725
JO - Vaccine
JF - Vaccine
IS - 44-46
ER -