The British Paediatric Surveillance Unit: activities and developments in 1990 and 1991
Related Experiment Videos
1British Paediatric Surveillance Unit, British Paediatric Association, Regent's Park, London.
Insights
The British Paediatric Surveillance Unit actively monitors rare childhood diseases using monthly reports from over 1100 pediatricians. This system effectively tracks conditions like HIV, Kawasaki disease, and congenital rubella.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Epidemiology
- Infectious Disease Surveillance
Background:
- The British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU) is a collaborative effort involving major UK pediatric and public health organizations.
- It operates as an active surveillance system for rare childhood conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and maintain an active case reporting system for rare childhood infections and other disorders.
- To facilitate the ongoing study and monitoring of pediatric health conditions.
Main Methods:
- Monthly distribution of reporting cards detailing up to twelve specific disorders to over 1100 pediatricians across the UK and Ireland.
- Achieving an average response rate of 90% from participating pediatricians.
- Follow-up investigations conducted on reported cases according to established study protocols.
Main Results:
- Successfully facilitated studies on a diverse range of rare pediatric conditions, including HIV/AIDS, Reye's syndrome, Kawasaki disease, congenital rubella, neonatal herpes, congenital toxoplasmosis, and acute rheumatic fever.
- Observed an increase in new survey applications during the 1992-1993 period.
- Demonstrated the system's effectiveness and garnered interest from European pediatric organizations for similar initiatives.
Conclusions:
- The BPSU provides a robust and efficient mechanism for the surveillance of rare pediatric diseases.
- The active reporting system has proven valuable in studying various significant childhood health issues.
- The model is recognized for its potential applicability in other European countries.
Abstract:
The British Paediatric Surveillance Unit is a joint undertaking of the British Paediatric Association, the PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre and the Department of Epidemiology at the Institute of Child Health, London. It provides an active case reporting system which aims to facilitate the surveillance of rare childhood infections and other conditions. Cards with a menu of up to twelve reportable disorders are sent monthly to more than 1100 paediatricians throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. The average response rate is 90%. Reported cases are followed up according to study protocols. Since its inception in 1986, the Unit has facilitated the study of a wide range of disorders, including HIV infection and AIDS, Reye's syndrome, Kawasaki disease, congenital rubella, neonatal herpes, congenital toxoplasmosis and acute rheumatic fever, and the number of new applications for surveys has increased in 1992-3. Several European paediatric organisations have expressed interest in setting up similar schemes in their own countries.