Dados do Trabalho

Título

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF BRAZIL DURING THE PERIOD OF 2018-2022

Introdução

Meningococcal meningitis is an infection transmitted by direct contact with a Gram negative bacterium called Neisseria meningitidis. The lethality is high and It is considered a medical emergency that requires mandatory notification. This pathology has a characteristic condition in which there is neck stiffness (Brudzinski and Kernig sign), fever and headache, which may be accompanied by emesis, photophobia and lethargy. The prevention is mainly the Meningococcal C vaccine (Conjugated), the 1st dose must be given in the 3rd month of life of the child, the 2nd dose in the 5th month and the extra dose should be given in the 12th month. The treatment is with antibiotics and should be given as soon as possible to avoid transmission.

Objetivo

Analyze the clinical-epidemiological profile of cases of meningitis in children and adolescents in Northern Brazil.

Método

The method used was a retrospective study in which data were obtained on the DATASUS health information system, through the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). The chosen inclusion criteria were cases of meningitis notified in the last 5 years, age, sex and disease evolution, the exclusion criteria used were age above 19 years old and other regions of Brazil, such as the northeast, south, southeast and midwest.

Resultados e Conclusões

A total of 1,242 cases of meningitis were reported in the North region among the population under 1 year old up to 19 years old, from 2018 to 2022. Among these cases, 2.17% were related to meningococcemia (MCC) , 4.83% were caused by meningococcal meningitis (MM), 2.81% by meningococcemia with meningococcal meningitis (MM+MCC), 24.87% cases represented meningitis by other bacteria (MB) and in 26.48% cases of unspecified bacterial meningitis (MNE). The most affected age group was between 10 and 14 years old, with 16 patients being infected by meningococcal meningitis. Finally, it was observed that the most affected sex was the male public and that there were 13 deaths due to MM.

Meningitis is a major public health problem, especially in less developed regions, such as northern Brazil. However, if treated correctly, the disease has a good prognosis with a significant recovery rate. The application of the Meningococcal C (Conjugate) vaccine in the first months of life has the potential to further reduce the number of cases and deaths from bacterial meningitis. The need for actions aimed at reducing neuroinfections, such as meningitis, in children and adolescents, is crucial.

Palavras Chave

MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS, NORTH REGION, EPIDEMIOLOGY, NEUROINFECTION

Declaração de conflito de interesses de TODOS os autores

The author Sabrina Costa Coelho and the co-authors, Ana Gabriela Pinheiro Monteiro and Julyana Felipe Mendes, declare that there is no conflict of interest or existente of relationship with people who may benefit from this work.

Referências (se houver)

DE SOUZA, João Victor Garcia; KRILOW, Cíntia; BAGATINI, Margarete Dulce. Caso de meningite meningocócica com meningococcemia fulminante em jovem de 22 anos no interior de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Brazilian Journal of Health Review, v. 3, n. 4, p. 7414-7420, 2020.
DE ANDRADE, Carla Hineida da Silva et al. Análise da incidência de Meningite Meningocócica em todas as faixas etárias antes e após a implantação da vacina meningocócica C (conjugada) no estado do Pará. Brazilian Journal of Health Review, v. 3, n. 4, p. 8650-8662, 2020.
FERRO, Melinna Gomes Cardoso et al. Análise epidemiológica da meningite meningocócica no Brasil. Research, Society and Development, v. 12, n. 1, p. e6012139408-e6012139408, 2023.
NASCIMENTO, B. et al. MENINGITE BACTERIANA: REVISÃO DE LITERATURA. Revista Ensaios Pioneiros, v. 6, n. 1, 2022.