[The Sentinella reporting system in Switzerland exemplified by pertussis monitoring from 1991 to 1993. Sentinel Work Group].

Since 1986, 150 to 180 general practitioners, internists and pediatricians in private practises have reported morbidity data to the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health within the Sentinella network. Data on a certain number of infectious diseases, some noninfectious diseases and other reasons for consultation are collected through this reporting system. The number of participating physicians corresponded to 2.3 to 3.1% of all family practitioners for each of the three specialties. They also covered approximately 2.7% of the total annual number of consultations in Switzerland. In 1992/93, all cantons and all half-cantons except Nidwalden and the two half-cantons of Appenzell were represented by at least one physician who reported during 75% or more of the total reporting period. When compared to other countries, the network density of the Swiss Sentinel network is high. Since 1986, several infectious diseases have been continuously monitored by the Sentinella system (measles, mumps, rubella, influenza). Surveillance of pertussis, which was started in 1991, will be continued for several years. According to these data, an annual pertussis incidence rate of 60 out of 100,000 population and 100 out of 100,000 population was estimated in 1991/92 and 1992/93, resp. More than 55% of cases were children aged between one and eight years. Of these children, 70.4% were reported to be vaccinated, and 62.6% had a well-documented vaccination status (based on a vaccination certificate). In 95.6% of these cases, at least three vaccine doses were given.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)