Increasing hospitalizations for serious skin infections in New Zealand children, 1990-2007.
Epidemiol Infect
; 139(11): 1794-804, 2011 Nov.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21156094
ABSTRACT
The incidence of serious skin infections in New Zealand children is significantly higher than in comparative countries. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of these infections and identify changes in disease distribution over time. Discharge data were analysed for all children admitted to a New Zealand public hospital with a serious skin infection during the period 1990-2007. Patient and admission variables were compared between 1990-1999 and 2000-2007. The incidence of serious skin infections almost doubled from 298·0/100,000 in 1990 to 547·3/100,000 in 2007. The highest rates were observed in boys, preschool-aged children, Maori and Pacific children, those living in deprived neighbourhoods, urban areas and northern regions. Over time there were disproportionate increases in infection rates in Maori and Pacific children and children from highly deprived areas. Serious skin infections are an increasing problem for New Zealand children. Worsening ethnic and socioeconomic health inequalities may be contributing to increasing rates.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Skin Diseases, Infectious
/
Soft Tissue Infections
/
Hospitalization
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
En
Journal:
Epidemiol Infect
Journal subject:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
/
EPIDEMIOLOGIA
Year:
2011
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Nueva Zelanda