Introduction: The most common form of infectious diseases of the nervous system is meningitis and encephalitis. This study discusses in detail bacterial meningitis and/or encephalitis in which the etiological factors are: Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and viral - in Poland, most often caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus. In addition to routine epidemiological surveillance of diseases caused by these etiological factors, mandatory and recommended vaccinations are carried out in Poland aimed at reducing the number of cases caused by N. meningitidis, S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and TBEV.
Aim of the study: The aim of the study is to assess the epidemiological situation of meningitis and encephalitis in Poland in 2019.
Material and methods: The epidemiological situation of meningitis and encephalitis in Poland was assessed on data sent to NIPH NIH - NRI by voivodeship sanitary-epidemiological stations and published in the annual bulletin "Infectious diseases and poisoning in Poland in 2019" and "Vaccinations in Poland in 2019".
Results: In 2019, a total of 2,239 cases of meningitis and encephalitis were registered in Poland. This is a decrease by approximately 19,9% compared to 2018. In the case of bacterial infections, including neuroborreliosis, the number of cases decreased by 27%, from 1265 to 921 cases. In the group of viral infections, a decrease by 14% (from 1,533 to 1,318 cases) was recorded. In 31% of all the cases of bacterial etiology, the etiological factor was one of three: Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. Infections of viral etiology accounted for 58.9% of all registered cases. Compared to 2018, the number of S. pneumoniae cases decreased by 14.6%, and in the case of N. meningitidis by 6.9%. In the case of H. influenzae, there was an increase in the number of cases, compared to the previous year. In addition, there was a slight increase in the number of cases of tick-borne encephalitis - from 197 cases in 2018 to 265 cases in 2019 (an increase of 34.5%).
Summary and conclusion: The analysis showed a generally declining disease trend, both in bacterial and viral meningitis and encephalitis. Only in cases caused by H. influenzae and tick-borne encephalitis virus, an increase was observed compared to the previous year. Meningitis and encephalitis continues to be a challenge for the healthcare system, with particular emphasis on the correct differentiation of the etiology at an early stage of infection detection.
Keywords: 2019; Poland; encephalitis; epidemiology; meningitis.
© National Institute of Public Health NIH – National Research Institute.