COMPLICATIONS AND SEQUELAE OF MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE IN QUEBEC, CANADA, 1990-1994

Citation
L. Erickson et P. Dewals, COMPLICATIONS AND SEQUELAE OF MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE IN QUEBEC, CANADA, 1990-1994, Clinical infectious diseases, 26(5), 1998, pp. 1159-1164
Citations number
24
Categorie Soggetti
Infectious Diseases",Immunology,Microbiology
ISSN journal
10584838
Volume
26
Issue
5
Year of publication
1998
Pages
1159 - 1164
Database
ISI
SICI code
1058-4838(1998)26:5<1159:CASOMD>2.0.ZU;2-2
Abstract
To study complications and sequelae of serogroup B and C meningococcal disease, a retrospective survey examined the outcome of all culture-p roven cases reported in the province of Quebec, Canada, from January 1 990 through December 1994 (serogroup B, 167 cases; serogroup C, 304 ca ses). Data were collected from medical files, postal questionnaires, a nd telephone interviews. Age groups having the most cases were the 10- 19-year age group for serogroup C and the <1-year age group for serogr oup B. Fatality rates were 7% for serogroup B and 14% for serogroup C disease. Only 3% of survivors of serogroup B disease had physical sequ elae, compared with 15% of survivors of serogroup C disease (skin scar s, 12%; amputations, 5%; hearing loss, 2%; renal problems, 1%; and oth er sequelae, 4%). These results confirm the gravity of disease caused by serogroup C, serotype 2a Neisseria meningitidis and justify liberal use of vaccination for outbreak control.