Flu widespread in winter

In the period 2006-2008, 4 in every 10 persons suffered from cold, influenza, throat infection or sinusitis. There is an obvious relation between the prevalence of these infectious diseases <<3021k1.doc>> and the seasons. In winter half of the Dutch population aged 12 years and older suffer from one or more of these diseases, as against less than one third in summer and approximately 40 percent in spring and autumn. Vomiting and diarrhoea are more frequent in winter.

The prevalence of other infectious diseases appears not to be related to a particular season. In each season, approximately the same amount of people suffer from kidney, bladder or urinary tract infections and inflammation of the ear, acute bronchitis or pneumonia.

Infectious diseases by season, 2006/2008

Marleen Wingen