Self-reported Illness Research Articles

The island effect: Spatial effects on mental wellbeing and residence on remote Scottish islands

BackgroundMental illness is the leading cause of disability in the UK, placing huge burden on individuals and society. This study explores how mental health outcomes relate to living in more geographically remote neighborhoods and the role of neighborhood-level social character. MethodsAdministrative, health and census databases were linked for a 5% sample of those aged 23–68 (n = 114,428) living in Scotland, between the years 2009–2014. Self-reported mental illness and prescriptions for psychotropic medications were modelled by residential level of remoteness, adjusting for individual level confounders and small area level measures of ‘social cohesion’ namely social fragmentation (SFI), social gifting (SGI) and income deprivation at the data zone level. ResultsMental ill health was lowest amongst residents in more remote/rural areas and particularly those living on islands. Difference in individual level factors such as ‘social grade’ and ethnicity did not explain this variation. Different levels of social cohesion appeared to explain a substantial proportion of the remoteness relationship with mental health. ConclusionRemote living is associated with lower odds of mental illness in Scotland. This may be partially due to neighborhood social structures shaped by geographical isolation. These findings contribute to understanding epidemiological and spatial inequalities of mental health, which could inform aspects of health and social policy.

Frailty and sociodemographic and health factors, and social support network in the brazilian elderly: A longitudinal study.

To identify and analyze the sociodemographic and health factors and the social support network of the elderly associated with frailty in the assessments carried out between 2007/2008 and 2018. This is a longitudinal study with elderly people aged ≥65 years living in the community. The instruments used were those for Demographic Profile, the Mini Mental State Examination, the Functional Independence Measure, Lawton and Brody Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, Minimum Relationship Map for the Elderly, and Edmonton Frail Scale. Descriptive analysis and linear regression were used, all tests with p < 0.05. Of the 189 elderly in the study period (2007/2008-2018), most were 80 years old and over, with an average of 82.31 years old; they were women, with no partner, who lived with other family members and were retired. In the final analysis, regardless of age and sex, a decrease in functional independence, an increase in depressive symptoms, an increase in the number of self-reported illnesses, and an increase in the frailty score were observed. The factors that were associated with the increase in frailty of the elderly during the study period were age, female sex, and no partner. The health team, which includes nurses, shall be aware of changes and develop care plans to prevent or avoid their progression.

Self-Reported Physical Limitations Among U.S. Veterans Compared to Non-Veterans: Findings from NHANES

Approximately 43% of males over the age of 65 years are Veterans. Veterans may be at elevated risk for functional declines due to barriers to health care access leading to accelerated loss of independence. This compared the prevalence of functional limitations in Veterans and non-Veterans. Data from two National Health and Examination Survey collection periods, administered 2013-2014 and 2015-2016, were used to compare physical functioning data between male Veterans (N=369) and non-Veterans (N=738) matched 1:2 for sex, race, and BMI. Individuals were considered a Veteran if they self-reported having “served in active duty in the U.S. Armed forces.” Pearson’s chi-square tests were used to assess differences in the prevalence of various self-reported functional limitations between groups. Veterans (mean±SEM: age: 64.5±0.54 years; BMI: 30.0±0.3 kg/m2) were disproportionately affected by self-reported functional limitations caused by long-term physical, mental, or emotional illnesses (8% vs. 3%, p<0.004). Twenty-five % of Veterans reported that these limitations kept them from working compared to 18% of non-Veterans (p<0.003). Veterans (38%) were also more likely to report being limited in the amount of work they could perform compared to non-Veterans (27%) (p<0.01). Additionally, Veterans (20%) were more likely to report the use of special healthcare equipment (i.e. cane, wheelchair) than non-Veterans (12%) (p<0.001). These data suggest that Veterans are at greater risk for functional limitations caused by self-reported long-term physical, mental or emotional illness. Therefore, further research is needed to determine if home- and community-based services could prevent further functional decline, ultimately allowing Veterans to maintain independence.

Upper respiratory tract symptom risk in elite field hockey players during a dry run for the Tokyo Olympics

ABSTRACT The primary aim of this study was to examine if biomarker and/or self-reported data could predict upper respiratory tract symptom (URTS) risk in elite field hockey players. The secondary aim was to investigate the effect of the additional stressor ‘repeated heat exposure’ on measures of thermoregulation and immunity. A prospective cohort repeated measures study design was used to collect URTS, household illness, self-reported wellness, biomarker and thermoregulatory data from elite male field hockey players (n = 19), during an 8-week training and competition period that simulated the preparatory and competition phases of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Heat response testing (HRT) was performed at the beginning of the study period, following heat acclimation (HA) and following an intensified competition period (ICP) played in hot and humid conditions (27–37°C and 53–80% relative humidity). Univariate frailty analysis demonstrated that illness in players' households (Hazard ratio (HR: 4.90; p < 0.001)) and self-reported stress (HR: 0.63; p = 0.043) predicted players' risk for URTS. Additionally, low baseline resting salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) concentration predicted players' “potential” URTS risk (p = 0.021). The additional stressor “repeated heat exposure” was found to facilitate partial thermoregulatory adaptation without attenuating resting immune functions. In conclusion, lifestyle and behavioural factors (i.e. household illness and stress) influenced players risk for URTS more so than sport-related stressors. Furthermore, repeated heat exposure did not appear to compromise players resting immunity. To assess athletes’ risk for URTS, baseline screening of SIgA concentration and regular monitoring of self-reported lifestyle and behavioural data are recommended. Highlights Self-reported illness in players’ households and higher self-reported stress significantly predicted increased upper respiratory tract symptom risk. Low baseline salivary secretory immunoglobulin A concentration predicted players “potential” URTS risk. Repeated heat exposures facilitated partial thermoregulatory adaptation without altering resting immunity.

Effects of Illness Management and Recovery: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

There have been inconsistent findings in the literature with respect to the efficacy of Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) in the psychosocial treatment of people with schizophrenia or other severe mental illnesses. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the effectiveness of IMR, including the impact of completion and fidelity. In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), 187 outpatients received either IMR plus care as usual (CAU) or only CAU. Multilevel modeling was implemented to investigate group differences over an 18-month period, comprising 12 months of treatment and six months of follow-up. The primary outcome was overall illness management, which was assessed using the client version of the IMR scale. Secondary outcomes included measures regarding illness management, clinical, personal, and functional recovery, and hospitalizations. The interviewers were blinded to group allocation. This clinical trial was registered with the Netherlands Trial Register (NL4931, NTR5033). Patients who received IMR showed statistically significant improvement in self-reported overall illness management (the primary outcome). Moreover, they showed an improvement in self-esteem, which is a component of personal recovery. There were no effects within the other questionnaires. There were also no statistically significant between-group differences in terms of hospitalizations. Patients in both groups showed statistically significant improvement in clinician-rated overall illness management, social support, clinical and functional recovery, and self-stigma over time. IMR completion was associated with stronger effects. High IMR fidelity was associated with self-esteem. This study confirms the efficacy of IMR in overall illness self-management. To our knowledge, this is the first RCT on IMR to explore the impact of fidelity on treatment efficacy. Future studies should further establish efficacy in personal recovery. To improve efficacy, it appears important to promote IMR completion and fidelity.

Illness prevalence and symptoms in youth floorball players: a one-season prospective cohort study involving 471 players

ObjectiveTo describe weekly illness prevalence and illness symptoms by sex in youth floorball players during one season.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingPlayers who were registered to play community level floorball during the 2017–2018...

Association of cancer prevention awareness with liver cancer screening participation rates among a high-risk population: results from rural Anhui Province.

Association of cancer prevention awareness with liver cancer screening participation rates among a high-risk population: results from rural Anhui Province.

The role of C1 inhibitor and complement as acute phase reactants: are we missing the diagnosis of hereditary angioedema?

BackgroundC1 inhibitor (C1-INH) and complement 4 (C4) have historically been referred to as positive acute phase reactants, however this has never been evaluated in hereditary angioedema (HAE) patients. Low function of C1-INH and low levels of C4 are important in the diagnosis of HAE type 1 and 2. If C1-INH and/or C4 are significant acute phase reactants, their levels may be falsely “normal” in patients with HAE when measured during times of infection or inflammation resulting in missed or delayed diagnosis.Case presentationWe present a case series of four HAE patients who had C4, C1-INH, c-reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin measured at baseline and again during a self-reported upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) or flu-like illness. We did not identify any HAE patients who had a significant change in their C1-INH functional level in the context of a mild infection. However, the C4 level did increase into the normal range on three occasions (2 patients, with 1 patient having elevation during two separate illnesses).ConclusionsC1 inhibitor may not be a clinically significant acute phase protein and appears to still be a reliable diagnostic marker of hereditary angioedema, even in times of modest acute inflammation, unlike complement C4 which can be elevated in this setting.

Study on Psycho-social Problems among COVID-19 Patients in Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India

Background: COVID-19 crisis leads to significant changes in routine life, loss of employment, financial crisis, living in isolation, and death of loved ones etc. that can create worry and stress among the people infected with COVID-19. The aim of the study is to estimate the burden of psycho-social problems among COVID-19 patients admitted in a tertiary care institute. A hospital-based cross-sectional study carried out among stable 450 RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted in the COVID ward of Tertiary Care Institute, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India between August and September 2020. Materials and Methods: Participants with self-reported pre-existing mental illnesses were excluded. Psycho-social issues of the participants were studied through telephonic conversation using a predesigned questionnaire including DASS 21 scale. Chi-square test was used to test the association between categorical variables. Variables significant in univariate analysis were included for multivariate analysis. P-value &lt; 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Based on DASS21 Scoring, 89 (20%) had depression, 190 (42%) were anxious and 53 (12%) were under stress. Patients aged more than 60 years, literate, with risk factors like diabetes mellitus and hypertension were more likely to have one or more psychological conditions. Conclusion: There is an increased prevalence of psychological morbidities among COVID-19 patients. It warrants the need for a combined action from health care professionals in the early identification of these psychological issues to prevent long term mental health issues among survivors.

Pesticides use and health impacts on farmers in Thailand, Vietnam, and Lao PDR: Protocol for a survey of knowledge, behaviours and blood acetyl cholinesterase concentrations.

Pesticides use in Southeast Asia has increased steadily, driven by the growth of large-scale commercial farming, as well as a desire to maximise food production in rural subsistence economies. Given that use of chemical pesticides, such as organophosphates and carbamates, has known potential health impacts, there are concerns about the safety of agricultural workers, and a need for a better evidence base to underpin regulation and worker education. This study, undertaken in 9 districts in Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam, will interview agricultural workers to investigate how they use pesticides, their knowledge of risks and self-protective practices, and their self-reported illness symptoms. In each district researchers will recruit and interview 120 participants engaged in vegetable farming, who have recently used pesticides, making a total of 1080 subjects divided equally between the three study countries. Workers’ degree of pesticides exposure will be determined from acetyl cholinesterase concentrations in capillary blood samples collected using field test kits, and these data will be analysed together with the interview findings. Country findings will be compared and contrasted, and general patterns noted. Knowledge gained about risky behaviours, self-protective practices and degree of association with serious pesticides exposure will assist policy makers and inform health improvement programmes.

Patient perceptions of infectious illnesses preceding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is often reported to be caused by an infectious agent. However, it is unclear whether one infectious agent might be the cause or whether there might be many different infectious agents. The objective of this study was to identify self-reported infectious illnesses associated with the onset of ME/CFS. The present study involved data from multiple sites in several countries. 1773 individuals diagnosed with either ME, CFS or ME/CFS provided qualitative data concerning infectious triggers which were coded and classified for analysis. 60.3% of patients report a variety of infectious illnesses some time before onset of ME/CFS. The most frequently reported infectious illness was Mononucleosis, which occurred in 30% of infections. However, over 100 other infectious illnesses were mentioned. The findings suggest that many infectious agents might be associated with the onset of ME/CFS.

Do preterm-born adolescents have a poorer oral health-related quality of life?

BackgroundTo evaluate oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) over a period of five years using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire in a population of Swedish adolescents born preterm and full term.MethodsIn a longitudinal study of adolescents aged 12–14 and 17–19, changes over time in OHRQoL were measured by using OHIP-14. The OHIP-14 score, self-reported chronic illness, temporomandibular disorder (TMD pain) and subjective orthodontic treatment need were compared between 98 extremely and very preterm born (< 32 gestational week) and 93 full-term controls (≥ 37 gestational week) at two ages. The chi-square test was used for comparisons within the extremely-, very-, and full-term control groups, and to contrast the differences of mean scores of OHIP-14, the ANOVA test was used for comparisons within the study groups of extremely preterm, very preterm and full term-born adolescents.ResultsAll adolescents reported a good self-perceived OHRQoL. No significant differences in the comparisons of the total mean scores were revealed between the groups, between gender or in domain-specific scores over the 5-year period. Very preterm adolescents with reported chronic illness at 12–14 years of age showed significantly higher mean scores of OHIP-14 compared with those without chronic illness (p = 0.015). At age 17–19, significantly higher mean scores of OHIP-14 were reported by very preterm adolescents with TMD pain compared to those without TMD pain (p = 0.024). Significantly higher mean scores of OHIP-14 were found among the extremely preterm (p = 0.011) and very preterm born adolescents (p = 0.031) with a subjective need of orthodontic treatment compared with those without orthodontic treatment need.ConclusionsPoor OHRQoL measured with OHIP-14 in very preterm adolescents aged 12–14 was related to chronic illness and aged 17–19 to TMD pain. In addition, extremely and very preterm-born adolescents with subjective orthodontic treatment need at 17–19 years of age also reported poor OHRQoL. To improve the dentist–patient relationship and achieve more successful treatment results, it is important for dental clinicians to understand the impact that chronic illness, TMD pain and orthodontic treatment need has on OHRQoL in preterm-born adolescents.

Neurocognitive Outcome Following Recovery from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus-1 (SARS-CoV-1).

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a highly contagious viral respiratory illness associated with hypoxia and dyspnea. Many of those who contracted and recovered from SARS during the 2002-2003 outbreak reported persistent physical, psychological, and cognitive difficulties. Here, we investigated the residual influences of SARS on cognition for a subset of healthcare professionals who recovered and were referred for neuropsychological evaluation through their workplace insurance. Twenty-eight healthcare professionals were evaluated on neuropsychological and mood functioning approximately 1.5 years post-recovery from a severe respiratory illness. Test scores were compared with age-matched normative data, and correlations were examined between mood, self-report memory scales, subjective complaints (e.g., poor concentration, pain, fatigue), illness severity (i.e., length of hospitalization, oxygen use during hospital stay), and cognitive performance. Participants performed within age expectations on the majority of cognitive measures including overall memory ability. Although processing speed was generally within normal limits, 43% showed significant speed-accuracy trade-offs favoring accuracy over maintaining speed. Deficits were observed on measures of complex attention, such as working memory and the ability to sustain attention under conditions of distraction. Participants endorsed poorer memory ability than same-age peers on a meta-memory measure and mild to moderate depression and anxiety symptoms. Objective test performance was largely uncorrelated with self-reports, mood, or illness severity, except for moderate correlations between complex attention and participants' subjective ratings of Everyday Task-Oriented Memory. These findings demonstrate specific long-term cognitive deficits associated with SARS and provide further evidence of the cognitive effects of hypoxic illnesses.

Evaluation of a Patient-reported Frailty Tool in Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Frailty is associated with mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but how best to measure frailty is unclear. We aimed to compare 2 frailty metrics, the self-reported Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses, and Loss of weight (FRAIL) scale (FS) and the Fried phenotype (FP), in SLE to evaluate differences between frail and nonfrail women and whether frailty is associated with self-reported disability. Adult women aged < 70 years with validated SLE and mild/moderate disease enrolled in this cross-sectional study between August 2018 and October 2019. Correlation and agreement between the FS and the FP were determined. Differences in sociodemographic and disease characteristics, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and biomarkers between frail and nonfrail participants were evaluated, as well as the association of frailty with Valued Life Activities disability. Of 67 participants, 27% and 18% were frail according to the FS and the FP, respectively. Correlation (r = 0.51; P < 0.0001) and agreement (κ = 0.46; P = 0.0004) between the FS and the FP were significant. Frail women had greater disease damage, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and interleukin 6, and worse PROMs according to both frailty definitions. Both frailty measures were associated with self-reported disability after adjustment for age, comorbidity, and disease activity and damage; this relationship was attenuated for the FP. Frailty prevalence was high in this cohort of women with SLE using both frailty definitions, suggesting that frailty may be accelerated in women with SLE, particularly when based exclusively on self-report. Frailty remained associated with self-reported disability in adjusted analyses. The FS may be an informative point-of-care tool to identify frail women with SLE.

Prevalence and Burden of Self-Reported Health Problems in Junior Male Elite Ice Hockey Players: A 44-Week Prospective Cohort Study

Background: Little is known about the burden of overuse injuries and illnesses in junior elite ice hockey. Purpose: To describe the prevalence and burden of all health problems in junior male elite ice hockey players in Norway during 1 school year. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiological study. Methods: A total of 206 junior male ice hockey players (mean age, 17 years; range, 15-20 years) attending specialized sports academy high schools in Norway reported all health problems, acute injuries, overuse injuries, and illnesses, weekly during the 2018-2019 school year (44 weeks). The players self-reported injuries and illnesses using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaire on Health Problems. Results: Of the players included, 25% (95% CI, 23%-27%) reported at least 1 health problem at any given time, while 16% (95% CI, 14%-17%) experienced health problems with a substantial negative effect on training and performance. Of the total burden of health problems, acute injuries accounted for 44%, overuse injuries 31%, and illnesses 25%. For acute injuries, the greatest burden was caused by injuries to the ankle, knee, and hand, whereas for overuse injuries the most burdensome location was the hip/groin and knee. Conclusion: This study documented that while acute injuries did represent the greatest problem among junior elite ice hockey players, overuse injuries, especially to the knee and hip/groin, also had a substantial effect.

Longitudinal analyses suggest a higher burden of self-reported influenza-like illness among women and girls in a rural community in western Kenya

Longitudinal studies that quantify influenza-like illness (ILI) burden while determining associated risk factors and intra-cluster correlation coefficients (ICCs) are scarce in Africa. This study aimed to identify longitudinal patterns of ILI and the associated independent variables while quantifying the burden by age and sex. We enrolled and followed 390 subjects nested within 92 households for 12 weeks, collecting weekly data on prespecified self-reported symptoms in a rural community in western Kenya. Using a standard case definition, reporting at least any four prespecified symptoms attained an ILI syndrome. Analyses related relationship between attaining ILI syndrome and independent variables using multilevel logistic regression models adjusting for age and sex. ICCs quantified clustering of ILI syndrome computed at different levels of data aggregation. Of the 4261 reports received, 592 (14%) registered an illness, with 278 (48%) of these attaining ILI syndrome. The 278 reports belonged to 176 (41%) subjects dwelling in 76 (83%) households. On average, each study subject and household experienced 1.6 and 3.7 episodes of ILI syndrome, respectively. Making a visit outside the local area of residence (Odds ratio (OR) =2.7, 95% CI 1.8, 4.1) and living in a cement-floored house (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.1, 3.3) independently predicted attaining ILI syndrome. Correcting for the population structure revealed an excess risk of 16% in attaining the syndrome among the study women and girls. Clustering of ILI syndrome was lowest at the individual level (ICC = 0.04) and slightly higher within households (ICC = 0.14), suggesting moderate household contextual influences. Regardless of the cause, we provide evidence of a potentially higher ILI syndrome burden among women and girls in our study area. Studies are needed to establish granular exposures defining the increasing risk of ILI syndrome associated with gender, making a visit outside the local sub-county of residence and living in a cement-floored house.

Serological surveys to estimate cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults (Sero-MAss study), Massachusetts, July–August 2020: a mail-based cross-sectional study

ObjectivesTo estimate the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM among Massachusetts residents and to better understand asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 transmission during the summer of 2020.DesignMail-based cross-sectional survey.SettingMassachusetts, USA.ParticipantsPrimary sampling group: sample...

Clinical features of gastroenteritis during a large waterborne Campylobacter outbreak in Ask\xf8y, Norway

PurposeOutbreaks of Campylobacter infection are common, but studies exploring the clinical features of acute illness in the outbreak setting are scarce in existing literature. The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the clinical features of self-reported acute illness in gastroenteritis cases during a large waterborne Campylobacter outbreak in Askøy municipality, Norway, in 2019.MethodsA web-based self-administered questionnaire, and invitation to participate was sent by the municipality of Askøy as text message to mobile phones using the municipality’s warning system to the inhabitants during the ongoing outbreak.ResultsOut of 3624 participants, 749 (20.7%) were defined as cases, of which 177 (23.6%) reported severe gastroenteritis. The most common symptoms were loose stools (90.7%), abdominal pain (89.3%) and diarrhea (88.9%), whereas 63.8% reported fever, 50.2% joint pain and 14.2% bloody stools. Tiredness, a symptom non-specific to gastroenteritis, was the overall most common symptom (91.2%).ConclusionAbout one in four of the cases reported symptoms consistent with severe gastroenteritis. We found more joint pain and less bloody stools than reported in published studies of laboratory confirmed campylobacteriosis cases. Tiredness was common in the current study, although rarely described in previous literature of acute illness in the outbreak setting.

Correlation between reported dengue illness history and seropositivity in rural Thailand.

In the latest World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation for Dengvaxia implementation, either serological testing or a person’s history of prior dengue illness may be used as supporting evidence to identify dengue virus (DENV)-immune individuals eligible for vaccination, in areas with limited capacity for laboratory confirmation. This analysis aimed to estimate the concordance between self-reported dengue illness histories and seropositivity in a prospective cohort study for dengue virus infection in Kamphaeng Phet province, a dengue-endemic area in northern Thailand. The study enrolled 2,076 subjects from 516 multigenerational families, with a median age of 30.6 years (range 0–90 years). Individual and family member dengue illness histories were obtained by questionnaire. Seropositivity was defined based on hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) assays. Overall seropositivity for DENV was 86.5% among those aged 9–45 years, which increased with age. 18.5% of participants reported a history of dengue illness prior to enrollment; 30.1% reported a previous DENV infection in the family, and 40.1% reported DENV infection in either themselves or a family member. Relative to seropositivity by HAI in the vaccine candidate group, the sensitivity and specificity of individual prior dengue illness history were 18.5% and 81.6%, respectively; sensitivity and specificity of reported dengue illness in a family member were 29.8% and 68.0%, and of either the individual or a family member were 40.1% and 60.5%. Notably, 13.4% of individuals reporting prior dengue illness were seronegative. Given the high occurrence of asymptomatic and mild DENV infection, self-reported dengue illness history is poorly sensitive for prior exposure and may misclassify individuals as ‘exposed’ when they were not. This analysis highlights that a simple, highly sensitive, and highly specific test for determining serostatus prior to Dengvaxia vaccination is urgently needed.

Non-specific effects of rabies vaccine on the incidence of self-reported common infectious disease episodes: A randomized controlled trial

Vaccines may affect recipients’ immune systems in ways that change morbidity or mortality rates to unrelated infections in vaccinated populations. It has been proposed that these non-specific effects differ by type of vaccine and by sex, with non-live vaccines enhancing susceptibility of females to unrelated infections, and live vaccines enhancing resistance in both sexes. Rabies vaccine–a non-live vaccine–has been associated with protection against unrelated central nervous system infections. Data from randomized controlled trials are needed to assess this effect against other illnesses. This phase IV, single-site, participant-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in a population of veterinary students on the rabies-free island of St. Kitts assessed the effect of a primary course of rabies vaccine on the incidence rate of weekly self-reported new episodes of common infectious disease (CID) syndromes, defined as a new episode of any one of the following syndromes in a particular week: upper respiratory illness (URI), influenza-like illness (ILI), diarrheal illness (DIA) or undifferentiated febrile illness (UFI). As a secondary objective, we tested for modification of the effect of rabies vaccine on study outcomes by sex. 546 participants were randomized (274 to rabies vaccine and 272 to placebo). No statistically significant differences between groups were observed for any study outcomes: CID incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.95 (95% CI 0.77–1.18); URI IRR 1.15 (95% CI 0.86–1.54); ILI IRR 0.83 (95% CI 0.54–1.27); DIA IRR 0.93 (95% CI 0.70–1.24) and UFI IRR 1.09 (95% CI 0.48–2.44). In a secondary analysis, there was little evidence that sex modified the effect of vaccination on any of the evaluated outcomes, although the power to detect this was low. In conclusion, rabies vaccine did not provide protection against mild self-reported illness among a young and healthy group of adults attending veterinary school.Clinical trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03656198.