Author/Authors :
Dash, N. University of Sharjah - College of Medicine - Department of Clinical Sciences, United Arab Emirates , Al Khusaiby, S. , Behlim, T. , Mohammadi, A. , Mohammadi, E. , Al Awaidy, S. Ministry of Health - Department of Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Control, Oman
Abstract :
We reviewed the epidemiologic features and trends for 771 cases of meningitis in Oman from January 2000 to December 2005. We found 69% were bacterial in origin and 13% were viral. Leading bacterial pathogens included Haemophilus influenzae (15%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (14%) and Nesseria meningitidis (12%). For 56% of patients with suspected pyogenic meningitis, no specific bacterial pathogen could be identified. Peak occurrence was in children under 2 years old. The incidence of H. influenzae type b decreased by almost 100% after implementation of the national immunization programme in 2001, while the incidence of cases caused by S. pneumoniae and N. meningitidisremained steady.
