Reinert P, Liwartowski A, Dabernat H, Guyot C, Boucher J, Carrere C
University Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Creteil, Paris, France.
Vaccine. 1993;11 Suppl 1:S38-42. doi: 10.1016/0264-410x(93)90158-t.
Results are reported of an epidemiological study which spanned ten years and was carried out in two French departments. A total of 277 cases of Hib disease occurring in children < 5 years old are reported and, in this age group, the incidence is evaluated at 21/100,000. Meningitis accounted for 64% of infections and epiglottitis for 7%. While the overall mortality rate was 3.3%, death was secondary to meningitis in 7/8 cases. Sequelae, which were all related to meningitis, were major in 1.2% of cases, severe in 9% of cases, and involved some hearing loss in 3.3% of cases. The monitoring networks set up in the two departments were characterized by sensitivities of 87 and 94%, respectively. They should prove useful in assessing the impact of vaccination, when large-scale implementation of vaccination has spread to both departments.
