title: Underreporting of viral encephalitis and viral meningitis, Ireland, 2005-2008.
abstract: Viral encephalitis (VE) and viral meningitis (VM) have been notifiable infectious diseases under surveillance in the Republic of Ireland since 1981. Laboratories have reported confirmed cases by detection of viral nucleic acid in cerebrospinal fluid since 2004. To determine the prevalence of these diseases in Ireland during 2005-2008, we analyzed 3 data sources: Hospital In-patient Enquiry data (from hospitalized following patients discharge) accessed through Health Intelligence Ireland, laboratory confirmations from the National Virus Reference Laboratory, and events from the Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting surveillance system. We found that the national surveillance system underestimates the incidence of these diseases in Ireland with a 10-fold higher VE hospitalization rate and 3-fold higher VM hospitalization rate than the reporting rate. Herpesviruses were responsible for most specified VE and enteroviruses for most specified VM from all 3 sources. Recommendations from this study have been implemented to improve the surveillance of these diseases in Ireland.
authors: Health Services Executive–Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dublin, Ireland. taraanne.kelly@hse.ie
authors: Tara A
authors: TA
authors: Kelly
authors: Piaras
authors: P
authors: O'Lorcain
authors: Joanne
authors: J
authors: Moran
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Garvey
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: McKeown
authors: Jeff
authors: J
authors: Connell
authors: Suzanne
authors: S
authors: Cotter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ICD-10; Viral encephalitis; aseptic meningitis; disease notification; enterovirus; herpesviruses; hospitalization; surveillance; varicella-zoster; viral meningitis; viruses
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