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Yanez D

Description

Absenteeism is regarded as an expedient and responsive marker of illness activity. It has been used as a health outcome measure for a wide spectrum of exposures and as an early indicator of influenza outbreaks.1 A handful of studies have described its validity compared with traditional ‘goldstandards’ for influenza and ILI.2,3 We sought to further quantify the relationship between ED ILI and school absenteeism because absenteeism, as it relates to illness, and subsequent loss in productivity and wages for parents, school staff and children, is an important public health outcome.

Objective

To describe the relationship between emergency department (ED) visits for influenza-like-illness (ILI) and absenteeism among school-aged children.

Submitted by Magou on