title: Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis: public health implications of recent clusters in New South Wales and epidemiology of hospital admissions.
abstract: Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) is an inflammatory kidney condition that can complicate Group A streptococcal infections. Two clusters of APSGN occurred recently in New South Wales (NSW), Australia; one in a rural town in December 1999 and the other in a Sydney suburb in January 2000. We interviewed carers of the affected children but found no common exposures except three of the Sydney cases were cousins in frequent contact. To assess the probability of these clusters occurring, we analysed hospital admissions for acute glomerulonephritis, as a proxy for APSGN in younger patients. The incidence of acute glomerulonephritis in NSW during 1989/90-1997/8 in residents aged under 20 years was 2.2/100000/year (95% CI 2.0-2.5). Incidence was highest in children aged 5-9 years, boys and Aboriginal children. We found no evidence for other clusters during that period. The recent clusters highlight the continued potential for unexpected future outbreaks of APSGN.
authors.affiliation: Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Control Unit, and NSW Public Health Training Program, NSW Health Department, North Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Muscatello
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: O'Grady
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neville
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McAnulty
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000150:complications*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000150:complications*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications*; D018881:Suburban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires