title: Childhood bacterial meningitis in Bulgaria: a population-based retrospective study in six regions during 1992-96.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a study to provide information on the importance of bacterial pathogens causing childhood meningitis in Bulgaria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 5-year population-based retrospective survey for bacterial meningitis in children <5 years of age was performed at all hospitals in the six largest regions of Bulgaria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 297 cases of meningitis reported, of which 211 (71.0%) were classified as bacterial in origin. The most common causes were Neisseria meningitidis (49 cases) and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (44 cases), accounting for 36% and 32% of etiologically confirmed cases. Thirty-one cases (70.5%) of Hib meningitis occurred in children <2 years of age, and 26 (59.1%) occurred in children 6-23 months of age. Average annual incidence rates of Hib meningitis based on the population of children <5 years of age for each region ranged from 1.3 to 9.8 per 100,000 (mean 5.9/100,000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The estimated incidence rates from this study were similar to those reported from southern European and Mediterranean countries. Further studies are planned to provide information on appropriate strategies for preventing childhood meningitis in Bulgaria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria. epidep@ncipd.netbg.com
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kojouharova
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gatcheva
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Setchanova
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mechandjieva
mesh_terms: D002031:Bulgaria / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012189:Retrospective Studies