Análise Epidemiológica dos casos de Meningite em crianças, nos últimos 10 anos, no Estado de Sergipe.

Abstract

Meningitis is defined as a disease resulting from an inflammatory process of the meninges. Children under the age of 5, and especially those under the age of 1, are more susceptible to developing the disease. In Brazil, the bacterial form of the disease has a high lethality rate and is a serious public health problem in childhood, as around 50% of cases who survive the disease develop neurological sequelae. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological profile of meningitis in children from 2013 to 2022 in the state of Sergipe. This is a descriptive, retrospective, and quantitative epidemiological study analysing secondary data available on SINAN (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação). The data were tabulated in Excel, and statistical analysis was carried out using PAST (version 4.03, Oslo, Norway) and JAMOVI (version 2.3.15, Sydney, Australia). During the period analysed, 108 confirmed cases of meningitis were reported for the population studied. The majority of cases occurred in the Aracaju health region (48%). The group of bacterial etiologies was the most prevalent (54%), and meningococcal disease was the most common specific etiology. The nonspecific meningitis group, which represents cases with no etiological definition, accounted for 30% of cases, and the most used confirmation criterion was chemo cytology. The majority of cases progressed to hospital discharge (70%), and there was greater lethality in the bacterial meningitis group (34%). The highest prevalence of cases occurred in the 5-9 age group, and the highest incidence was in children under 1 year old (55.9 cases per 100,000 residents). Males and individuals of mixed race had a higher prevalence of cases. A stationary trend in cases was observed for all age groups and all aetiology groups. In relation to the month of first symptoms, no seasonal relationship was identified between cases in the state. Thus, due to the high lethality of cases and the limitations observed in the etiological definitions, it is important that prevention and epidemiological surveillance measures related to meningitis are strengthened in the state.