title: Disappearance of epiglottitis during large-scale vaccination with Haemophilus influenzae type B conjugate vaccine among children in Finland.
abstract: Surveillance of blood-culture-proven epiglottitis was conducted in Finland from 1985 through 1992. Among children (< 16 years), all bacteria causing epiglottitis, and among adults, Haemophilus influenzae were included. H influenzae type b (Hib) caused 226 (97%) of cases among children. Among adults with H influenzae epiglottitis (total of 20), 19 were caused by Hib. In 1986, vaccine trials with Hib-conjugate vaccines started in Finland, with vaccination coverage of 94% to 98% of infants. Vaccinations did not yet have an effect on the occurrence of epiglottitis in 1985 or 1986 when the annual incidence among children was 5.3/100,000, among those less than 5 years of age was 13.2/100,000, and among adults was 0.08/100,000. In 1987 through 1992 the proportion of vaccinated children increased steadily while the incidence of Hib epiglottitis decreased from 50 to 60 cases seen annually in 1985 and 1986 to 2 cases in 1992. There was no increase in the occurrence of epiglottitis caused by other pathogens. In conclusion, there is now a safe and efficient way to prevent the majority of epiglottitis cases among children with the new Hib-conjugate vaccines.
authors.affiliation: National Public Health Institute, Helsinki University, Stenbäckinkatu, Finland.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Takala
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peltola
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eskola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D004826:Epiglottitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; C055753:Haemophilus influenza type b polysaccharide vaccine-tetanus toxin conjugate; C044237:Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine; C052180:Haemophilus influenzae type b-polysaccharide vaccine-diphtheria toxoid conjugate; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid