title: Burden of Haemophilus influenzae type b disease in Pakistani children.
abstract: Estimates of the burden of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in children in Pakistan are limited. A prospective surveillance was set up in 8 sentinel sites in Karachi and Hyderabad in January 2004. A total of 1481 children aged < 5 years underwent lumbar puncture for suspected acute bacterial meningitis. Specimens from 237 (16.0%) children met the criteria for probable bacterial meningitis, and Hib was detected in 45 of them (19.0%). The minimum detected incidence of Hib meningitis in the Hyderabad area was 7.6 per 100 000 in children < 5 years of age, and 38.1 per 100 000 children < 1 year. Hib vaccination is justified for inclusion in Pakistan's expanded programme of immunization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Ago Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. Anita.zaidi@aku.edu
authors.forename: A K M
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Zaidi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sherali
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lasi
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D015984:Causality; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019741:Haemophilus influenzae type b; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013129:Spinal Puncture; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014611:Vaccination