الفهرس 
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Abstract
The intensity of seasonal influenza varies from year to year and largely depends on the size of the susceptible population. The incidence of seasonal influenza typically increases in the late autumn and begins to decline in mid spring. In the Northern hemisphere, this corresponds to November through March; in the Southern hemisphere, this corresponds to April through September. In tropical countries, influenza occurs sporadically throughout the year, but more so in the rainy periods.
Commercially available rapid diagnostic tests are screening tests for influenza A and B virus infections, which can provide results within 30 minutes.
Objectives
The goal of this pilot survey is to screen children with respiratory symptoms for influenza A virus infection in post winter season, which correspond to May through September 2010 in El Gharbia governorate.
Subjects and Methods
This study included 60 children, with symptoms or signs suggestive upper and/or lower respiratory tract infections. Nasal swab specimens were collected and tested for influenza A virus by ”One step influenza A rapid test”.
Results
In this study children were classified to 2 groups according to the results of the rapid test. Group (1): included 29/60 (48.3%) children with influenza A virus positive rapid test. Group (2): included 31/60 (51.7%) children with influenza A virus negative rapid test.
Temperature was the strongest predictor of influenza A virus infection; risk was 4.12 times higher for children with fever (95% CI 1.00-16.94) than for other children.
There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups as regards the distribution of gender, residence, passive smoking, crowding index and abnormal radiological findings (P> 0.05).
Respiratory rate was higher among influenza A virus positive rapid test group, with a significant statistical difference (P< 0.05).