Epidemiology of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in Romania between 1976-1982.
The analysis of 415 SSPE cases detected between 1976-1982 pointed out a relatively high yearly incidence of this disease: 5-6 cases per 1 million inhabitants. Clusters of SSPE cases were observed in certain counties of Romania. The onset of SSPE occurred mostly at 6-7 years (only 6% of the cases were detected in children over 10 years of age); the mean duration of the interval between acute measles and SSPE onset was of 4-5 years. The following risk factors were made evident in the patients' past histories: male sex, acute measles experienced under the age of 1-2 years, existence of several siblings, long time intervals spent in the rural environment or in child communities, contact with domestic animals. During the first three years of its application on a national scale antimeasles vaccination had no effect on SSPE incidence.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010507:Periodicity; D012306:Risk; D012383:Romania; D012621:Seasons; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014611:Vaccination
D000914:Antibodies, Viral