title: Epidemiology of Haemophilus influenzae type b disease in France.
abstract: Results are reported of an epidemiological study which spanned ten years and was carried out in two French departments. A total of 277 cases of Hib disease occurring in children < 5 years old are reported and, in this age group, the incidence is evaluated at 21/100,000. Meningitis accounted for 64% of infections and epiglottitis for 7%. While the overall mortality rate was 3.3%, death was secondary to meningitis in 7/8 cases. Sequelae, which were all related to meningitis, were major in 1.2% of cases, severe in 9% of cases, and involved some hearing loss in 3.3% of cases. The monitoring networks set up in the two departments were characterized by sensitivities of 87 and 94%, respectively. They should prove useful in assessing the impact of vaccination, when large-scale implementation of vaccination has spread to both departments.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Creteil, Paris, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reinert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liwartowski
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dabernat
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guyot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carrere
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004826:Epiglottitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology