Abstract
More than 95% of invasive haemophilus infections are due to capsulated H. influenzae type b. This organism is one of the most frequent cause of bacterial meningitis during childhood. Reported incidence of H influenzae meningitis in North and West Europe range from 11 to 31 per 100,000 in the age group 0-5 years. In a ten year retrospective study (1975 to 1985) we found the incidence of H influenzae meningitis during childhood in the Kanton of Zurich (total population 1.1 Mill) to be 30 per 100,000 in the age group 0-5 years and 11 per 100,000 in the 0-15 year group. The case fatality rate was 4.2% and neurological sequelae were observed in 20% of the patients. The peak incidences were observed at 12 to 18 months and at 24 to 30 months, whereas for epiglottitis peak incidence was at 30 to 36 months. 10% of meningitis cases were less than 6 months old and 12% were between 5 and 15 yrs old. The age range for eplglotitis was from 0.5 to 10.8 yrs. This infection also had a case fatality rate of 4.5%. On the basis of these findings there are 250 invasive H. Influenzae infections in children annually in Switzerland (total population of 6.5 Mill.). 8 children may die due to the infections and another 20-30 children will suffer permanent sequelae, such as hearing impairment, and other neurological sequelae. A vaccine, such as the PRP-D conjugated polysaccharide vaccine used in Finland, could prevent 200 severe infections, 6 to 8 deaths and around 20 cases of permanent neurological sequelae annually.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gnehm, H., Richard, B. & Egger, H. 15. INCIDENCE OF HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE MENINGITIS IN SWITZERLAND (ZURICH) AND THE POTENTIAL EFFECT OF A PRP-D IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMME. Pediatr Res 24, 655 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198811000-00037
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198811000-00037