Epidemiology of pneumococcal disease in children in Germany |
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| Authors: | C Ziebold R von Kries A Siedler HJ Schmitt |
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| Affiliation: | Pediatric Infectious Diseases Department of Pediatrics, Johannes-Gutenberg-University, Mainz;Germany Institute for Social Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine;University of Munich, Germany Robert Koch Institut Berlin, Germany |
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| Abstract: | Recently published and as yet unpublished data allow a reasonable estimate of the annual burden of pneumococcal disease in Germany. At least 277000 episodes of otitis media and at least 2000 episodes of sinusitis occur in children under the age of 5 y. Pneumococcal meningitis was found in 200 children under the age of 16 y; the estimate for all age groups ranges from 450 to 1100 cases. Of approximately 150000 cases of ambulatory pneumococcal pneumonia, at least 63 000–105000 patients are hospitalized each year.
Conclusion: Further studies of pneumococcal epidemiology in Germany are needed, and continued surveillance will be necessary for a better understanding of the overall burden of pneumococcal disease in children as well as adults. |
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