Abstract
Population based surveillance was undertaken to assess the incidence of meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b in children 0–59 months old in Kielce and Bydgoszcz districts in Poland in 1998 and 1999. The cases were prospectively identified in pediatric and neuroinfection wards of local hospitals where all cases of children with suspected meningitis are referred in both districts. The mean annual incidence of meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b in children 0–59 months old in Kielce district during the study period was estimated at 3.1 per 100,000 per year (10.3% of cases of bacterial meningitis with confirmed etiology). In Bydgoszcz district, the annual incidence was 9.7 per 100,000 (50% of confirmed cases). These estimations are lower than reported in most Western European countries before the immunization against Hib was introduced. Small numbers of Hib vaccinations reported from both districts do not seem likely to have influenced the data significantly.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson EC, Begg NT, Crawshaw SC, et al. Epidemiology of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease in England and Wales in the prevaccination era (1990–1992) Epidemiol Infect 1995; 115: 89–100.
Broome CV. Epidemiology of Haemophilus in.uenzae type b infections in the United States. Pediatr infect Dis 1987; 6: 779–782.
Claesson BA. Epidemiology of invasive Haemophilus in.uenzae type b disease in Scandinavia. Vaccine 1993; 11(Suppl 1): S30–S33.
Squarcione S, Pompa MG, D'Alessandro D. National Surveillance System and Hib meningitis incidence in Italy. Eur J Epidemiol 1999; 15: 685–686.
Peltola H, Kilpi T, Antilla M. Rapid disappearance of Haemophilus in.uenzae type b meningitis after routine childhood immunization with conjugate vaccines. Lancet 1992; 340: 592–594.
Novakova E, Gessner BD, Olear V. Incidence of Haemophilus in.uenzae type b meningitis among children less than 5 years of age in Slovakia. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 1999; 18: 409–413.
Diomina AA, Spirikhina LV, Koroliova IS, Volkowa MO. Childhood Haemophilus in.uenzae type b meningitis in Russia.Eur J Pediatr 1999; 158: 85.
Gellert GA, Wenger JD, Brilla A. Haemophilus in.uenzae type b disease in Latvia.Lancet 1994; 344: 959.
Generic protocol for population based surveillance of Haemophilus in.uenzae type B. Annex 2. Global Programme for Vaccines and Immunization. World Health Organization. Geneva 1996.
Noack R, Padelt H. Type B Haemophilus in.uenzae infections: Epidemiology, vaccinations, chemoprophylaxis [Ger]. Kinderarztl Prax 1991; 59: 365–367.
Windorfer A. Vaccinations against Haemophilus influenzae B and rubella [Ger]. Gesundheitswesen 1992; 54: 528–534.
Severien C, Lehners TH. Epidemiology of invasive Haemophilus in.uenzae disease in a German city. Klin Padiatr 1994; 206: 108–111.
Cochi SL, Fleming DW, Hightower AW, et al. Primary invasive Haemophilus in.uenzae type b disease: A population-based assessment of risk factors. J Pediatr 1986; 108: 887–896.
Zabicka J, Mazurowska W. Zapalenia opon mó zgowych. In: Kostrzewski J, Magdzik W, Naruszewicz-Lesiuk D (ed.), Choroby zakaŹ ne i ich zwalczanie na ziemiach polskich w XX w. Warszawa: PZWL, 2001; 450–461 [Infectious diseases and their control on Polish territories in XX century – Pol]. Address for correspondence: Andrzej Zielin´ ski, Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Hygiene, ul. Chocimska 24, 00-791 Warsaw, Poland Phone/fax: +48-22-646 4487 E-mail: azielinski@pzh.gov.pl 782
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zieliński, A., Tomaszunas-Błaszczyk, J. & Kuklińska, D. Epidemiology of childhood bacterial meningitis in Poland. Eur J Epidemiol 17, 779–782 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015619230247
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015619230247