[Pédiatric haemophilus influenzae b meningitis in Dakar].
OBJECTIVE
This study had for aim to determine the etiology of Haemophilus b pediatric meningitis.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 216 biologically confirmed cases was carried out during 6 years (January 1995- December 2000) on children 0 to 15 years of age, hospitalized at the Albert Royer Children Hospital Center.


RESULTS
Haemophilus influenzae b is the first cause of pediatric meningitis (19.7%) followed by Nesseria meningitidis (14.5%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (13.6%). The Haemophilus influenzae b meningitis cases are distributed all year round with a peak between January and March, that is to say, during the dry and cool season. They affect children at an average age of 11.7 months, with a sex ratio of 1.1 for boys. Almost all of the patients live in the low-socio-economic areas of the Dakar suburbs (92.8%). More than 90% of the H. influenzae b isolates are sensitive to ceftriaxone (96%) chloramphenicol (93%), and to ampicillin (91%). Clinical evolution is marked by death (17.8%) and recovery with psychological, sensory, and motor sequels (19.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
This report should help to include the combined vaccine Antihaemophilus influenzae b in the Senegalese Broad Vaccination Program. The final aim is the reduction of morbidity and mortality of infections due to Haemophilus influenzae b.
Camara
B
B
Hôpital d'Enfants Albert-Royer de Fann Dakar, CHU de Fann, avenue Cheikh-Anta-Diop, BP 11265 Dakar, Sénégal. bccamara@yahoo.com
Faye
P-M
PM
Diouf
S
S
Gueye-Diagne
N-R
NR
Diagne
I
I
Cissé
M-F
MF
Ba
M
M
Sow
H-D
HD
Kuakuvi
N
N
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012675:Senegal / Q000453:epidemiology; D016019:Survival Analysis