Incidence of childhood Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis in Sri Lanka.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the burden of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease in Sri Lanka and provide information for decision-making in public health planning and vaccine introduction.


METHODS
This was a prospective, population-based study carried out in 2004, to describe the epidemiology and calculate the incidence of meningitis caused by Hib in children <5 years of age in the district of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Hib was identified in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens by culture and antigen detection (latex agglutination test; LAT).


RESULTS
The lumbar puncture rate in children <5 years of age was 1.9%. A causative bacterial organism was identified in 108 meningitis cases, and in 54 (50%) this was Hib. The LAT increased the Hib detection rate in CSF four-fold. In 2004, the annual incidence of Hib meningitis in Colombo was 20.1 cases per 100000 children aged <5 years.


CONCLUSIONS
This study is the first from Sri Lanka reporting the Hib meningitis incidence rate pre-vaccine introduction. The reported incidence rate is one of the highest from the Asian region, but is likely an underestimation considering the difficulties in the laboratory identification of Hib.
Batuwanthudawe
Ranjith
R
Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health, No. 231, de Saram Place, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka. ranjithbatu@yahoo.com
Rajapakse
Lalani
L
Somaratne
Pranitha
P
Dassanayake
Malka
M
Abeysinghe
Nihal
N
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019741:Haemophilus influenzae type b / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008297:Male; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011634:Public Health; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology