CONDITIONS CLIMATIQUES ET SYNDROME HÉMOLYTIQUE ET URÉMIQUE (SHU) DANS LE NORD DE L’ITALIE

Weather and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in Northern Italy. Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) is a rare disease that mostly affects children. It is characterized by acute kidney injury, platelets consumption (thrombocytopenia) and mechanical destruction of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia). For each study area a detailed climatic analysis has been carried out in order to identify climatic peculiarities and differences related to HUS incidence. In order to test the working hypothesis that the spread of HUS may be influence by specific climatic conditions, we have analyzed all cases of infection identified from June 2010 through October 2012 in specific areas of Lombardy Region (Milan, Monza Brianza and Varese) where a surveillance system for screening HUS has been developed within a prevention program.