Table. Characteristics of pilgrims returning from the Hajj 2002 compared with those returning from the Hajj 2001a.
| Characteristics | Returning Hajj pilgrims 2002 (n=153) | Returning Hajj pilgrims 2001 (n=171) (ref. 15) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age (yrs) |
48 |
48 |
|
| Gender (male) (%) |
48 |
46 |
|
| Race (Malay) (%) |
98 |
98 |
|
| Median interval between return from pilgrimage and throat swab in days (range) |
10 (2–17) |
17 (1–45) |
|
| Median duration of pilgrimage in days (range) |
33 (14–41) |
33 (3–47) |
|
| Overall meningococcal carriage rate (%) |
1.3 |
17 |
<0.001 |
| Carriage of W-135 ST 11 (%) |
0 |
15 |
<0.001 |
| Cough (%) |
75 |
56 |
NS |
| Antibiotic drug use (%) | 56 | 41 | NS |
aNS, not significant.