Epidemiology of meningitis in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates, 2000-2005.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To describe the epidemiologic features of meningitis in Al-Ain Medical District, United Arab Emirates from January 2000 through June 2005.

METHODS:
A retrospective review of clinical records and notification forms for cases of meningitis reported to the Department of Preventive Medicine, Al-Ain. Data collected and compiled included demographic features, causative microbiologic agents, and annual incidence rates of meningitis, by etiology.

RESULTS:
Ninety-two cases of meningitis were reported during the study period; 53% were bacterial and 37% were viral in origin. Neisseria meningitidis was the leading bacterial pathogen (35%) followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (16%). Ten percent of clinically diagnosed cases of meningitis had no causative microorganism recovered, and in 33% of patients with presumed pyogenic meningitis no specific bacterial pathogen could be identified. The peak occurrence of meningitis was in young children less than one year old. Most cases of meningococcal meningitis were seen among prison inmates and laborers, while viral meningitis occurred mainly in children and young adults attending school. The incidence rate of meningitis in Al-Ain ranged between 2.2/100,000 population in 2000 and 1/100,000 in 2005, with an overall downward trend by year. The incidence of Haemophilus influenzae type b decreased significantly after implementation of the national immunization program in 1999.

CONCLUSIONS:
Improved methods of bacterial detection including isolate serotyping must be made available in order to further reduce mortality and morbidity from meningitis.

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Author information

Author/s: Dash, Nihar (N); Ameen, Abdulmajeed S (AS); Sheek-Hussein, Mohamud M (MM); Smego, Raymond A (RA);

Affiliation: Department of Control of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. nihardash(-atsign-)omc.edu.om

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases (Int J Infect Dis), published in Canada. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Jul; vol 11 (issue 4) : pp 309-12

Dates: Created 2007/07/03; Completed 2007/11/06;

PMID: 16950640, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Infant

Infant, Newborn
Male
Meningitis, Bacterial - diagnosis; epidemiology
Meningitis, Viral - diagnosis; epidemiology
Middle Aged
Neisseria meningitidis - isolation & purification
Retrospective Studies
Streptococcus pneumoniae - isolation & purification
United Arab Emirates - epidemiology

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