Rates of meningitis

[Spectrolite]

I'm trying to find the proof of the statement many posters have said on this forum:

"Rates of meningitis pre-vax is nearly the same as rates of meningitis post-vax."

If this is true, this makes me want to definately avoid the Hib vax. This would tell me that although the Hib meningitis rates have gone down, other bacteria (or other serotypes) have gone up, so the risk of getting bacterial meningitis is about the same.

Am I figuring this out right?

Why would anyone want to get a Hib vax if the above statement is true?

I'm just wondering, not wanting to cause a big debate, not wanting to ruffle any feathers!

[carriebft]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2230261

Rates of H. influenzae meningitis varied significantly by region, from 1.9/100,000 in New Jersey to 4.0/100,000 in Washington state.

That was 1986

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/337/14/970

Results On the basis of 248 cases of bacterial meningitis in the surveillance areas, the rates of meningitis (per 100,000) for the major pathogens in 1995 were Streptococcus pneumoniae, 1.1; Neisseria meningitidis, 0.6; group B streptococcus, 0.3; Listeria monocytogenes, 0.2; and H. influenzae, 0.2

That was 1995


So rates of H influenzae (any type) are as high as 4.0 in 1986 and around .2 in 1995.


Of course this is just looking at two studies.

[Marnica]

Parts 1-3


http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/...gate-vaccines/


http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/...e-vaccines-ii/

http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/...-vaccines-iii/

[carriebft]

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/586819

There were 1379 cases of pneumococcal meningitis identified during the surveillance period. Between 1998 to 1999 and 2004 to 2005, incidence declined 30.1%, from 1.13 cases to 0.79 case per 100,000 persons (P < .001). Incidence decreased during the study period by 64.0% among persons younger than 2 years of age and by 54.0% among those 65 years of age or older (P < .001 for both groups).

(obviously this refers to the type of meningitis caused by bacteria that prevnar prevents and not Hib)

[carriebft]

Originally Posted by Marnica

Parts 1-3


http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/...gate-vaccines/


http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/...e-vaccines-ii/

http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/...-vaccines-iii/

There may be increases in other hib strains, but is there increases in meningitis specifically? or a maintaining of the same prevaccine meningitis rates?

I see these articles linked a lot for this question and it doesn't really seem to be addressed specifically and with good proof.

ear infections up, staph infections up-- yes, I see things like that a lot when we talk about this. But where is the meningitis rates same/rising proof?

[anewmama]

Also depends if you want to use broad statements and apply it to your child as part of your decision process. Just like your child is not a statistic for vaccinating, your child should not be a statistic for not vaccinating.

[carriebft]

http://pediatrics.aappublications.or...tract/93/4/663

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by carriebft

There may be increases in other hib strains, but is there increases in meningitis specifically? or a maintaining of the same prevaccine meningitis rates?

I see these articles linked a lot for this question and it doesn't really seem to be addressed specifically and with good proof.

ear infections up, staph infections up-- yes, I see things like that a lot when we talk about this. But where is the meningitis rates same/rising proof?

True...the studies referenced in these articles address the overall topic of serotype replacement and invasive disease rates, but not specifically meningitis

[mamakay]

Originally Posted by carriebft

http://pediatrics.aappublications.or...tract/93/4/663

The interesting thing there, is this:

From 1980 through 1987, mortality from H influenzae meningitis decreased an average of 8.5% each year,

Why? You can't credit the vaccine for that.

[CallMeIshmael]

Though the mortality rate dropped an average of 8.5% a year from 1980-1987, the hospitalization rate increased 1% a year during the same period. The article itself provides information on the mortality and hospitalization rates of strep pneumo and n. meningiditis as well. Both of those bugs showed similar trends in the mortality rates (declining) and hospitalization rates (stable). In other words, just as many kids were getting meningitis, but fewer were dying from it.

Of these two measures, the hospitalization rate is a more accurate reflection of the incidence rate of the disease. The mortality rate will be affected by changes the overall health of the population and by how meningitis is treated. It could potentially also by the severity of disease, although you would not expect a decline in virulence in all three bugs at the same rate.

[EarthsSpiral]

Were intravenous fluids introduced in the 80's? I would think re hydrating people alone would cause a huge decrease in mortality.