Abstracts

RATIONALE:_: Influenza A and B (common flu) can be a devastating acute respiratory infection, causing mortality and morbidity in high-risk populations. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of flu on an epilepsy population, as well as utilization of the flu vaccine. METHODS: This data was collected from Nov 99 to March 2000, from office visits and by phone interviews. Subjects were questioned during and after flu season. Questions consisted of age, sex, type of seizures, medications, living conditions, prior febrile seizures, flu vaccination status and history of respiratory tract infection. Criteria for flu included high fever, myalgia, malaise, upper respiratory infection (URI) symptoms and nasopharyngeal cultures. Subjects were classified as definite or possible flu, or other respiratory infection. Use of antiviral therapy, acute medical care and impact on seizures was recorded. RESULTS: : 55 epilepsy subjects participated: 16 group home (GH) residents and 39 from the general epilepsy population (GEP). Age: 18-76 (mean 42) for GH and 24-79 (mean 44) for GEP. Vaccinated 15/16 GH and 11/39 GEP subjects. Of unvaccinated GEP subjects, 9/28 had probable flu, 4 of the unvaccinated flu patients experienced an increased in seizures frequency. Two had to be hospitalized for seizures, 1 in status epilepticus. These were young adults, mean age 37. No vaccinated subjects contracted flu. CONCLUSIONS:_The focus of attention in the past for the flu vaccination has been the elderly, institutionalized or chronically ill patients and recently young children. This small study demonstrates increased morbidity in an unvaccinated epilepsy population. Interestingly, young intractable epilepsy patients were most affected. The benefits of immunization in the Institutionalized were significant. Flu vaccine is cost effective in the epilepsy population, not only by reducing serious morbidity, but also preventing complications. Thus, this population should also be considered a high-risk group for flu vaccination.