[Epidemiology of Haemophilus influenzae type b, Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae in children in the Valencia Community, Spain. Acute diseases study group].
OBJECTIVE
To asses the incidence of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis in children of de Valencian Community (VC), Spain, and to describe the microbiologic characteristics.


METHODS
Prospective surveillance system with paediatrician and microbiologist participation of all public hospitals of the VC. Cases are children less than 15 with clinical meningitis and with isolation of Hib, N. meningitidis or S. pneumoniae from CSF of blood.


RESULTS
From 1st December 1995 to 30th November 1996, 51 cases were declared, 33.3% were Hib, 49.0% N. meningitidis and 17.7% S. pneumoniae. The annual incidence of meningitis was 7.6 cases/100,000 < 15 years, 20.5/100,000 < 5 years and 56.2/100,000 < 1 year. 84.3% of the cases occurred in children younger than 5. S. pneumoniae had the highest mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Hib is a frequent cause of meningitis in spite of that one third of children are vaccinated. 43% of the N. meningitidis isolated in meningitis are serogroup C. S. pneumoniae meningitis are more frequent in children less than one, and has a high mortality rate.
Morant
A
A
Instituto de Vacunas de Valencia (VIVA), Valencia, España.
Díez
J
J
Gimeno
C
C
de la Muela
N
N
Pereiró
I
I
Brines
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019741:Haemophilus influenzae type b / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines
Epidemiología de la meningitis producida por Haemophilus influenzae tipo b, Neisseria meningitidis y Streptococcus pneumoniae en niños de la Comunidad Valenciana, España. Grupo de Estudio de Enfermedades Invasoras.