Open AccessINFLUENCE OF SCHOOL CLOSURE ON THE INCIDENCE OF VIRAL RESPIRATORY DISEASES AMONG CHILDREN AND ON HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION
Author(s) -
Anthony Heymann,
Gabriel Chodick,
Brian Reichman,
Ehud Kokia,
Joseph M. Laufer
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the pediatric infectious disease journal/the pediatric infectious disease journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1532-0987
pISSN - 0891-3668
DOI - 10.1097/01.inf.0000128778.54105.06
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , respiratory system , closure (psychology) , pediatrics , pandemic , emergency medicine , health care , covid-19 , intensive care medicine , family medicine , disease , physics , economics , infectious disease (medical specialty) , optics , market economy , economic growth
We evaluated the effect of school closure on the occurrence of respiratory infection among children ages 6-12 years and its impact on health care services. During this period, there were significant decreases in the diagnoses of respiratory infections (42%), visits to physician (28%) and emergency departments (28%) and medication purchases (35%). The present study provides quantitative data to support school closure during an influenza pandemic.