Meningitis and encephalitis in Poland in 2019

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Neurology

Background:

• Meningitis and encephalitis are common infectious nervous system diseases.
• Key etiological factors include Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV).
• Poland implements surveillance and vaccinations against these pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the 2019 epidemiological situation of meningitis and encephalitis in Poland.

Main Methods:

• Data collected from voivodeship sanitary-epidemiological stations.
• Analysis based on national bulletins: "Infectious diseases and poisoning in Poland in 2019" and "Vaccinations in Poland in 2019".

Main Results:

• Total cases decreased by 19.9% to 2,239 in 2019.
• Bacterial infections dropped by 27%, viral by 14%.
• Haemophilus influenzae and TBEV cases increased by 34.5%.

Conclusions:

• Overall declining trend in meningitis and encephalitis, but with notable increases in H. influenzae and TBEV.
• Early etiological differentiation remains crucial for managing these challenging diseases.