[Meningococcal disease in Catalonia, Spain (1990-1997)].
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to study the behavior of meningococcal disease in Catalonia during the period 1990-1997, identifying the possible epidemic periods.


METHODS
All cases reported to the notifiable disease system which fulfilled the criteria of confirmed or suspected cases during this period were analyzed.


RESULTS
The global incidence rate was 4.8/100,000. The incidence rate for serogroup B was 1.9/100,000 and for serogroup C 0.8/100,000. The disease incidence tended to diminish slightly during the study period, with a constant annual growth of 0.11/100,000. The increased incidence of serogroup C cases in 1996-1997 was associated with an increased incidence in the 10-19 years age group.


CONCLUSIONS
Globally, in the 1990-1997 period, the disease incidence tended to diminish slightly. During the last two years, an increased incidence was observed, mostly due to the increase in the number of serogroup C cases. This fact was associated with a change in the age pattern of cases, which increased in the 10-19 years age group, as observed in other countries and coinciding with epidemic periods or greater meningococcal activity.
Carmona
Gloria
G
Dirección General de Salud Pública, Departamento de Sanidad y Seguridad Social, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. gloria.carmona@gencat.net
Cardeñosa
Neus
N
Oviedo
Manuel
M
Orcau
Angels
A
Pañella
Helena
H
Alsedà
Miquel
M
Escatllar
Núria
N
Company
Maria
M
Domínguez
Angela
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification; D012703:Serotyping; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology