Retrospective survey on the epidemiology of H. influenzae type B meningitis in Italy (1987-91).

A retrospective survey on the epidemiology of H. Influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis was carried out in seven Italian hospitals. During the period 1987-1991, 95 (16.3%) Hib meningitis cases out of 581 bacterial meningitis cases were observed. The proportion of Hib meningitis was lowest in 1981 (11.3%); elevated in 1988 (11.9%); thereafter it did not change. A male preponderance was observed (Sex ratio 1,6). The age distribution showed that 93.1% of cases occurred in subjects <5 years, 53.1% of cases in those <1 year. Although Hib meningitis accounts for a small proportion of all bacterial meningitis, it is also a major problem in Italy in early childhood, because nearly all cases occur in children <5 years