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Pattern of meningitis in Al-Ain medical district, United Arab Emirates--a decadal experience (1990-99)
R Mahmoud1, M Mahmoud, P Badrinath
1Tawam Hospital, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Objectives:
Haemophilus influenzae vaccine was introduced in the United Arab Emirates in 1999. Our objective was to describe the pattern of meningitis in a health district in the decade before the introduction of the vaccine and compare it with the data from elsewhere.
Methods:
For this retrospective study we included 128 meningitis cases reported from 1990 to 1999. Information on the cases was abstracted from the case notification forms and clinical and laboratory data from the hospital case notes.
Results:
H. influenzae was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis (n=59, 46.1%) followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=20, 15.6%). Meningitis was a disease primarily of infants and children and the median age was 15 months. One fifth of the patients (n=27) had neurological sequelae of which 33.3% had seizures and 25.9% developed deafness. 18.9% (10 out of 53) of H. influenzae isolates were resistant to ampicillin compared with 5.9% (3 out of 51) to chloramphenicol. 78.9% (15 out of 19) of S. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to penicillin.
Conclusions:
The epidemiology of meningitis in our health district is similar to the epidemiology of meningitis during the pre-vaccine era in other countries.
Insights
Haemophilus influenzae was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis before the vaccine
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccinology
Background:
- The Haemophilus influenzae vaccine was introduced in the UAE in 1999.
- Understanding meningitis patterns pre-vaccine is crucial for public health.
- This study examines meningitis epidemiology in a specific health district.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the pattern of meningitis in a UAE health district.
- To compare local meningitis data with pre-vaccine era data from elsewhere.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 128 meningitis cases from 1990-1999.
- Data abstracted from case notification forms and hospital records.
- Analysis of causative agents, patient demographics, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Haemophilus influenzae (46.1%) was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis, followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (15.6%).
- Meningitis predominantly affected infants and children (median age 15 months).
- Neurological sequelae, including seizures and deafness, were observed in 20% of patients. Antibiotic resistance was noted in H. influenzae isolates.
Conclusions:
- The meningitis epidemiology in this UAE health district mirrors that of the pre-vaccine era in other regions.
- Findings highlight the significant burden of meningitis prior to widespread vaccination.
- This data provides a baseline for evaluating the impact of Haemophilus influenzae vaccination.