Russell FM, Fakakovi T, Paasi S, Ika A, Mulholland EK. Reduction of meningitis and impact on under-5 pneumonia after introducing the Hib vaccine in the Kingdom of Tonga.
ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009;
29:111-7. [PMID:
19460264 DOI:
10.1179/146532809x440725]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
AIMS
To document the impact of Hib vaccine on Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) invasive disease, meningitis and inpatient pneumonia in children under 5 in the Kingdom of Tonga.
METHODS
Cases of meningitis and pneumonia were sourced from the paediatric discharge book from 1 January 2000 to 2 November 2007 and from computerised discharge records from Vaoila Hospital on the island of Tongatapu where approximately 70% of the total population resides. Laboratory-confirmed cases were sourced from the microbiology laboratory register over the same period.
RESULTS
Prior to the introduction of Hib vaccine in 2005, there were, on average, 5.6 cases of invasive Hi disease per year. In the 22 months after Hib vaccine introduction, there was only one case of invasive Hi disease. This corresponds to a fall in the annual incidence of invasive Hib disease from 54.3 to 5.1/100,000 children under 5 years of age. The annual incidence of inpatient pneumonia has fallen by 28.3% from 1007.6 to 722.8/100,000 children under 5 in the 22 months after introducing the vaccine.
CONCLUSION
Hib vaccine has reduced invasive Hi disease and Hi meningitis in Tonga. The reduction in inpatient pneumonia is more likely a reflection of annual fluctuations in viral pneumonia than of a reduction in Hib pneumonia, but ongoing surveillance is recommended.
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