title: Scarlet fever in Poland in 2013.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of the epidemiological situation of scarlet fever in Poland in 2013 in comparison with previous years. MATERIALS AND MATHODS. The evaluation was performed by reviewing surveillance data published in the bulletin, "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2013" (Warsaw 2014, NIPH-NIH, CSI) and also in bulletins from previous years, and unpublished data collected under Statistical survey program of official statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2013 did not change the general view of the epidemiological situation of scarlet fever in Poland. Analysed data did not indicate the possibility of shortening an epidemic cycle of scarlet fever, nor suggest growing rate of epidemic curve or increase of average annual incidence which was observed in last twenty years. In 2013, in the country a total of 25 115 cases were registered with corresponding incidence 65.2 per 100,000 population (in voivodeships: from 22.9 in Łódzkie to 111.1 in Pomorskie). The highest incidence was notified in 5-year-old (949.2) and 4-year-old children (916.6), and the cases among children and young people up to 15 years accounted for 87.0% of all cases. The incidence among men (78.8) was higher over 50% than incidence among women (52.5). The incidence was higher in urban areas than in rural areas and was 68.7 (in rural area 59.9). 1.04% of patients were hospitalized. No deaths related to this disease were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A sudden increasing incidence among men, especially in the 15-19 age group and growing proportion of cases among adults in comparison to the notified in previous years, according to authors' opinion, can be associated with compensatory epidemic of rubella (!). It is estimated, that about 10% scarlet fever cases reported to surveillance in a year are misclassified and could be unrecognized cases of rubella. Therefore, it is important to enhance specificity of epidemiological surveillance of scarlet fever. Additionally, it will give a better opportunity to monitor and supervise measles and rubella elimination program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw.
authors.forename: Mirosław P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Czarkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Staszewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kondej
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012541:Scarlet Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult