title: Decreases in invasive Haemophilus influenzae diseases in US Army children, 1984 through 1991.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document trends in the incidence of invasive Haemophilus influenzae diseases in young children of US Army active duty soldiers following the publication of H influenzae type b immunization recommendations for young children between 1985 and 1990.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-based surveillance of hospital discharge diagnoses for H influenzae invasive diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Military and civilian medical treatment facilities around the world.
  
  
  METHODS
  There was a mean population of nearly 200,000 US Army health care beneficiaries younger than 5 years of age each year of the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Annual total and age-specific incidences of the six most common H influenzae invasive diseases in this population (meningitis, epiglottitis, septicemia, pneumonia, cellulitis, and septic arthritis).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The annual number of cases of H influenzae invasive diseases decreased from a high of 188 in 1986 to 43 in 1991. The incidence in the age group at highest risk for H influenzae disease, those 6 to 11 months of age, decreased from 355 per 100,000 children in 1986 to 116 per 100,000 in 1991 (P < .0001, chi 2 for trend). The incidence for H influenzae meningitis declined from 59 per 100,000 children in 1986 to 6 per 100,000 in 1991 (P < .0001, chi 2 for trend).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decrease in H influenzae invasive diseases closely follows the dates of H influenzae type b vaccine licensure for use in progressively younger age groups. Some age groups, however, experienced a decline in disease rates even before becoming eligible for vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Preventive Medicine Studies, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC 20307-5100.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Broadhurst
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Kelley
mesh_terms: D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; C044237:Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial