Rapid assessment tool for Haemophilus influenzae type b disease in developing countries

Emerg Infect Dis. 2004 Jul;10(7):1270-6. doi: 10.3201/eid1007.030737.

Abstract

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) still causes a substantial number of deaths among children in developing countries, despite the availability of effective conjugate vaccines. A major obstacle in developing a Hib vaccine has been limited awareness about the impact of Hib disease. A tool was developed to estimate the national rates of Hib meningitis and pneumonia by assessing retrospective local data over 7 to 10 days. Data from 11 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia were studied and showed rates of Hib meningitis from >50 cases per 100,000 children >5 years in Ghana and Uganda to <15 per 100,000 in Iran, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Results were affected by the quality of available data. The Hib rapid assessment tool can be useful to countries that desire a timely assessment of Hib disease rates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Africa / epidemiology
  • Asia / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Developing Countries*
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Meningitis, Haemophilus / diagnosis*
  • Meningitis, Haemophilus / epidemiology
  • Meningitis, Haemophilus / microbiology
  • Middle East / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Time Factors