title: Meningococcal disease in Norway 1992-1995. Epidemiology and fatality.
abstract: We analysed data on all cases of meningococcal disease (MCD) reported to the Norwegian Notification System for Infectious Diseases during the period 1992-1995. For 1994, additional information on fatalities was gathered. Notifications were received from laboratories and clinicians. A total of 586 patients were included. The incidence decreased from 4.6 per 100000 in 1992 to 2.4 in 1994, and then rose to 3.7 in 1995. The initial decrease, a trend also observed in previous years, was seen in both main serogroups B and C. This decline was broken with the increase of serogroup B in 1995. MCD predominantly affects children below 5 years and teenagers. In 1994, 17/105 (16%) patients died. Main risk factors for fatal outcome were age above 30 years (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 19.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.4-164), septicaemia (adjusted OR 9.5; 95% CI 2.2-41) and disease caused by strains B:15 (adjusted OR 6.4; 95% CI 1.2-35) or C:2a (adjusted OR 10.1; 95% CI 1.6-62). We conclude that the incidence of MCD in Norway is unpredictable and that the case fatality rate is substantially higher than previously believed.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aavitsland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012723:Sex