Meningitis and encephalitis in Poland in 2016

Agnieszka Królasik1, Iwona Paradowska-Stankiewicz1

  • 1National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw, Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases and Surveillance

Przeglad Epidemiologiczny
|November 6, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

In 2016, Poland saw a 14.5% rise in meningitis and encephalitis cases, with viral infections like tick-borne encephalitis being most prevalent. Continued vaccination education is crucial for preventing these serious febrile diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Meningitis and encephalitis are severe febrile illnesses with diverse symptoms and outcomes.
  • Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae are common bacterial causes, while tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a predominant viral neuroinfection.
  • These conditions pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, with approximately 3000 cases annually in Poland.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the 2016 epidemiological landscape of meningitis and/or encephalomyelitis in Poland.
  • To compare the 2016 findings with epidemiological data from previous years.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of aggregate data from annual bulletins on infectious diseases and vaccinations in Poland for 2016.
  • Inclusion of recommendations from the 2016 Protective Vaccine Program.

Main Results:

  • Poland recorded 3,191 cases of meningitis/encephalitis in 2016, a 14.5% increase from 2015, with an incidence of 7.6 per 100,000 population.
  • Viral etiologies accounted for 43.49% of neuroinfections, with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) comprising 74.67% of these viral cases.
  • Bacterial etiologies represented 30.08% of cases, showing a 6.35% increase compared to 2015.

Conclusions:

  • A notable increase in meningitis and encephalitis cases occurred in Poland in 2016, primarily driven by viral infections.
  • The observed decline in bacterial meningitis/encephalitis may be linked to increased vaccination rates, highlighting the importance of continued public education on vaccine-preventable diseases.
  • Sustained educational initiatives are essential to enhance public awareness regarding infectious disease prevention through vaccination.