[Evolution of meningococcal infection among infant population in the autonomous community of Valencia (1996-2000). Effectiveness of A+C meningococcal vaccination]. / Evolución de la enfermedad meningocócica en la población infantil de la Comunidad Valenciana (1996-2000). Efectividad de la vacunación antimeningocócica A + B.

BACKGROUND: The increase in meningococcal disease caused by serogroup C in the Autonomous Community of Valencia during the 1996-1997 period gave rise to an A + C meningococcal vaccination campaign having been conducted targeting the population ranging from 18 months to 19 years of age. The purpose of this study is that of analyzing the impact of this campaign regarding the epidemiology, clinical aspects and evolution of meningococcal disease and the vaccination status of the youth population for the purpose of evaluating the efficacy of this vaccination. METHODS: The data was taken from the clinical records of the children under 15 years of age who showed clinical signs and symptoms suggesting an invasive disease with isolation of Neisseria meningitidis and/or which meet the established case definition criteria which had been treated at all of the public hospital in the Autonomous Community of Valencia within the 1996-2000 period. The trend of incidence was evaluated by means of incidence rates. The clinical aspects and their progress (sequelae and lethality) by frequency and distribution by serogroup and age. The vaccination efficacy was calculated using the Orestein equation. RESULTS: A total of 302 cases of invasive disease caused by N. Meningitidis were recorded. The rate of incidence by serogroup C in children under age 15 dropped following the vaccination campaign from 5.82/10(5) habitants in 1997 to 1.68/10(5) habitants in 1998. Rates similar to those prior to the time prior to the vaccination recorded three years subsequent to the campaign, showing an increase in the disease caused by serogroup B over the last 2 years. Sixty-one percent of the sequelae were among children under 5 years of age. Lethality was higher for serogroup C. Vaccination efficacy three years subsequent to the campaign was 83.7% for the 5-14 age range and 69.1% for the 19 month-4 year age range. CONCLUSION: The polysaccharide vaccine was shown to be effective for halting the outbreak. The drop in the incidence of serogroup C can be attributed to the vaccination efficacy achieved.

[Haemophilus Influenzae infection before and after the immunization campaign among children in the Valencia community (1996-2000)]. / Enfermedad invasora for Haemophilus Influenzae antes y después de la campaña de vacunación en la población infantil de la Comunidad Valenciana (1996-2000).

BACKGROUND: The introduction of a conjugate type b Haemophilus influenzae (Hib) vaccine for children has led to a sharp drop in the incidence of H. influenzae disease. The purpose of this study is that of analyzing the major characteristics of invasive disease due to H. influenzae as regards epidemiology, clinical aspects, evolution and immunization status among the infantile population of the Autonomous Community of Valencia for the 1996-2000 period. METHOD: The data was taken from the clinical records of those children under age 15, who have shown clinical signs and symptoms indicative of invasive disease entailing isolation of Haemophilus influenzae and/or meeting the established case definition requirements, who were treated at all of the public hospitals in the Autonomous Community of Valencia throughout the 1996-2000 period. The trend of incidence was assessed by mean of incidence rates. The clinical pattern and the evolution there of (sequelae and life-threatening aspects) by frequency and age range. RESULTS: A total of 36 cases of invasive disease due to Haemophilus influenzae were recorded. The incidence rate among children under age 15 dropped from 3.56/10(5) in 1996 to 1.07/10(5) in 1997 (coinciding with the immunization campaign and the subsequent including of the conjugate Hib vaccine in the Routine Vaccination Schedule of the Autonomous Community of Valencia) and 0.30/10(5) in 1998, this being a situation which has continued over the following years. Fifty-three percent (53%) of the cases occur in children under age 18 months. Both the sequelae as well as the deaths occurred throughout the period prior to the routine use of the conjugate vaccine. No child properly immunized died. Two cases of non-b type H. influenzae occurred in immunized children. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of infection due to type b Haemophilus influenzae dropped drastically as of the start of the routine immunization of the infantile population.