[Epidemiology of Haemophilus influenzae type b, Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae in children in the Valencia Community, Spain. Acute diseases study group].

OBJECTIVE

To asses the incidence of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis in children of de Valencian Community (VC), Spain, and to describe the microbiologic characteristics.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Prospective surveillance system with paediatrician and microbiologist participation of all public hospitals of the VC. Cases are children less than 15 with clinical meningitis and with isolation of Hib, N. meningitidis or S. pneumoniae from CSF of blood.

RESULTS

From 1st December 1995 to 30th November 1996, 51 cases were declared, 33.3% were Hib, 49.0% N. meningitidis and 17.7% S. pneumoniae. The annual incidence of meningitis was 7.6 cases/100,000 < 15 years, 20.5/100,000 < 5 years and 56.2/100,000 < 1 year. 84.3% of the cases occurred in children younger than 5. S. pneumoniae had the highest mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Hib is a frequent cause of meningitis in spite of that one third of children are vaccinated. 43% of the N. meningitidis isolated in meningitis are serogroup C. S. pneumoniae meningitis are more frequent in children less than one, and has a high mortality rate.