[Infectious diseases in Poland in 2002]

New regulations concerning infectious diseases effective in Poland since 2002 did not changed surveillance of infectious diseases. The most frequent infectious disease as in the previous years was influenza. 228.055 cases were reported (596.5/100,000). Number of foodborne infections and intoxications remains high--26.734 cases (69.0/100,000). 77% of them were caused by Salmonella. In this high number of foodborne infections in 4,492 (16.8%) etiologic factor was not found. In this number Campylobacter infections, rarely tested in Poland may be found. Especially alarming is number of cases of diarrhea among children 0-2. Age adjusted incidence of 2.464/100,000 is the highest occurrence among infectious diseases in Poland. There was noted decrease of incidence of newly diagnosed cases of viral hepatitis B (5.3/100,000) which dropped to the level of the incidence of viral hepatitis C (5.17/100,000). Hepatitis A remains at the low level (0.9/100,000). Level of newly diagnosed cases of AIDS (113 cases, 0.3/100,000) remains relatively stable for last few years. The major problem is decreasing reporting of possible risk factors. Infectious diseases caused 0.74% of deaths. Mortality from infectious diseases was 6.9/100,000 and was significantly higher among men (8.9) then among women. (5.1). In the age groups 35-64 it was 3-4 times higher. In urban settings mortality from infectious diseases was higher (7.2/100,000) then in the country (6.6). In particular districts (voivodeships) mortality indices remained in the range of 4.3 (opolskie) to 11.4 (ślaskie). As in previous years, the highest number of deaths was caused by tuberculosis and its late sequels (35.4%). Attention should be given to the increased number of deaths due to sepsis (33.6%, without neonatal sepsis).