Epidemiology of Haemophilus type b invasive disease in childhood in Glasgow

The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of invasive disease due to Haemophilus influenzae type b in childhood in Glasgow. A retrospective study has been made on the hospital records of 252 children aged 0 to 12 years admitted to Glasgow hospitals during 1981-1990. The annual incidence of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease in Glasgow was estimated at 39 per 100,000 children less than five years of age per year. The figure for Haemophilus meningitis was 23.8 per 100,000 children less than five years of age per year. Ninety-five per cent of all cases occurred in children less than five years of age and 72.1% of meningitis cases occurred before two years of age. There was a mortality of 2.77%. Long-term neurological sequelae were found in 15.3% of the survivors. The annual incidence of Haemophilus influenzae type b disease is slightly higher in Glasgow than previously reported for the United Kingdom. The study provides baseline data to help assess efficacy of proposed early childhood vaccination.