title: Epidemiology of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease among children in Finland before vaccination with Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine.
abstract: On the basis of intensified surveillance in Finland we report the epidemiology of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease based on 333 consecutive culture-proved cases recorded during 1985 and 1986. The annual incidence rate among children younger than 5 years of age was 52/100,000; 46% of patients had meningitis, 29% had epiglottitis and 25% had other forms of invasive disease. The median age of patients was 27 months, with 45% younger than 2 years of age. Meningitis and epiglottitis were found more often among boys than among girls, whereas the opposite was found among patients with other types of invasive disease (P = 0.015). Among the latter 68% of children with pneumonia or septicemia were 2 years or older compared with 32% of patients with arthritis, cellulitis or pyelonephritis (P = 0.009). These background data are essential for correct interpretation and application of results from trials with H. influenzae type b conjugate vaccines that are currently ongoing in Finland.
authors.affiliation: National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Takala
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eskola
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peltola
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Mäkelä
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines