title: Aseptic meningitis: frequency among Israeli ethnic groups.
abstract: The relative frequency of aseptic meningoencephalitis (AME) was compared in populations of diverse origin, A countrywide search of Israel during 1969-1970 disclosed 1350 cases who fit strict diagnostic criteria. The average annual incidence was 21.6 per 100000 population. The total incidence was similar in Afro-Asian, Euro-American and Israeli Jewish groups but among Israeli Arabs, the incidence was apparently lower. Age-specific incidence showed a peak in infants under one year of age among Arabs and Afro-Asian Jews whereas Euro-Americans and Israeli Jews had a peak incidence at 5-9 years. Larger family size among Arabs and Afro-Asian Jews might account for the higher incidence in infants. Age-specific incidence may be a better index than total incidence of important differences in AME among various ethnic groups.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000367:Age Factors; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel; D007585:Jews; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology