Abstract

DICKINSON MENESES, Félix Orlando  and  PEREZ RODRIGUEZ, Antonio Esteban. Las meningoencefalitis bacterianas en la población infantil cubana: 1998-2000. Rev Cubana Pediatr [online]. 2002, vol.74, n.2, pp. 106-114. ISSN 1561-3119.

Somme epidemiological aspects of bacterial meningoencephalities that occurred in Cuba from 1998-2000 are described according to available data from the National Surveillance Service. A total of 530 cases involving children under 15 years old were reported throughout the country in this period of time. The most affected age group was under 5 years. The most frequent identified agents were Haemophilus influenzae type B(Hib, Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) and Neisseria meningitidis (Nm). The incidence of Hib decreased by 4 times thanks to massive vaccination program, particularly in under 5 years-old children, from the year 2000 on. Spn is the main causative agent of bacterial meningoencephalities and the most lethal one in Cuba. General lethality rate increased from 10.6 to 20.4% and the under one-year old age group was the most affected. Further studies will allow deepening into the epidemiology of these infections and monitoring the changes that might occur as a result of interventions.

Keywords : MENINGOENCEPHALITIS [epidemiology]; MENINGOENCEPHA-LITIS [immunology]; EPIDEMIOLOGIC SURVEILLANCE; BACTERIAL VACCINES; CHILD; MENINGITIS, BACTERIAL [epidemiology]; MENINGITIS, BACTERIAL [immunology].

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