title: The burden of pneumococcal disease in children less than 5 years of age in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in both developing and industrialized countries, especially among young children and in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. It is implicated in both invasive (e.g. meningitis and septicemia) as well as noninvasive disease (community-acquired pneumonia and otitis media). The objective of the current study was to describe the overall epidemiology of both invasive and noninvasive pneumococcal disease in Abu Dhabi over a 5-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of all pediatric (≤ 5 year old) pneumococcal disease admissions to Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) and Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi from 1 January 2001 till 31 December 2005.th
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrieved computerized data from the health information management systems (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD9) diagnosis codes) as well as manual surveillance in the laboratory record of pneumococcal isolates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease was 13.6/100, 000 per year (95% CI, 6.5-24.9) and the incidence of noninvasive pneumococcal disease was 172.5/100,000 per year (95% CI, 143.8-205.2). The total incidence rate was 186.0/100, 000 per year (95% CI, 156.2-219.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This epidemiological survey indicates that the incidence rates in the United Arab Emirate are higher than in Western countries where conjugate pneumococcal vaccine has been introduced. This study is important as it documents the incidence of pneumococcal disease in the era before introduction of the conjugate pneumococcal vaccine and allows for future research to document the impact of a new vaccine considering the geographic variation of pneumococcal serotypes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. mhowidi@skmc.gov.ae
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Howidi
authors.forename: Haider
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muhsin
authors.forename: Jaishen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rajah
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines