engleski

The impact of Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccination on the incidence of Hib meningitis in Zagreb and Zagreb County

In University Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb, in the period from 1988-1998, one hundred (100) children 0-6 years of age with Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis were treated (average 9 patients per year), so the presumed incidence of Hib meningitis in Zagreb and Zagreb county was 10-14/100000 children aged 0-6 years. The incidence of Hib meningitis in other European countries in prevaccination era was 15-26/100000 children aged 0-6 years, and in the United States and Canada 40-69/100000 children. Routine vaccination of children with conjugated Hib vaccines in the USA and some European countries resulted in high decrease in morbidity of Hib meningitis. In the last several years there was a possibility in Croatia for non-obligatory vaccination against Hib. Routine, obligatory vaccination against Hib for children in Croatia started on January 1st, 2002. Because of possible non-obligatory vaccination against Hib in the last few years, we expected a graduate decrease in the incidence of Hib meningitis in Zagreb and Zagreb county, but data from our Hospital did not confirm our hypothesis. In the period from 1999-2001, a total of twenty-seven (27) children with Hib meningitis were treated (average 9 patients per year), so the incidence practically remained the same as in the 11-years period before. However, with the introduction of routine, obligatory Hib vaccination for children in our country, we expect a significant decrease of incidence of Hib meningitis in Zagreb and Croatia. We think that expected decrease in Hib meningitis incidence will occur in the next few years, which correllates with the results from the countries that introduced routine Hib vaccination earlier.

Haemophilus influenzae type B; meningitis

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