[Infectious diseases in Poland in 2004]

Incidence of influenza, the most frequent infectious disease in Poland decreased 72% to 336,919 cases (882.4 per 100,000 population). Number of bacterial foodborne infections and intoxications remain high--19,870 cases (52.0 per 100,000). 79.6% of them were caused by Salmonella. In 17.0% of them etiologic factor was not found. Number of cases of diarrhea among children 0-2 (viral, bacterial and of unknown origin) was 16,361 (2,326 per 100,000). Among them 5,672 were viral. This number includes rotaviral infections as probably the dominant component. There was noted decrease of incidence of newly diagnosed cases of viral hepatitis B (4.1 per 100,000) which'dropped to the level below the incidence of viral hepatitis C (5,6). Hepatitis A remains at the low level (0.25 per 100,000). Level of newly diagnosed cases of AIDS (170 cases, 0.45 per 100,000) is 19% higher then in the previous year. The major problem with HIV reporting is low fraction of reported risk factors. Infectious diseases caused 0.68 % of deaths. Mortality from infectious diseases was 6.5 per 100,000 population and was significantly higher among men (8.6) then among women (4.5). In urban settings mortality from infectious diseases was higher (7.0 per 100,000) then in the country (5.8). In particular districts (voivodeships) mortality indices remained in the range of 4.6 (kujawsko-pomorskie) to 9.8 (lubuskie). The highest number of deaths was caused by tuberculosis and its late sequels (34.2%). Attention should be given to the increased number of deaths due to sepsis (34.0%, without neonatal sepsis).