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Arch Dis Child 2003;88:712-714 doi:10.1136/adc.88.8.712
  • Acute paediatrics

Invasive pneumococcal disease in Oxford, 1985–2001: a retrospective case series

  1. C C Grant1,
  2. A R Harnden2,
  3. G Jewell2,
  4. K Knox3,
  5. T E Peto4,
  6. D W Crook3
  1. 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Auckland, New Zealand
  2. 2Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford, UK
  3. 3Oxford Pneumococcal Surveillance Group, University of Oxford, UK
  4. 4Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
    Associate Professor C Grant, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand;
    cc.grant{at}auckland.ac.nz
  • Accepted 27 November 2002

Abstract

Aims: To describe a series of children with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD).

Methods: A review of patient records for children aged 0–18 years admitted to the John Radcliffe Hospital with IPD from 1985 to 2001. Social deprivation was measured by the Jarman index. The proportion of children with congenital abnormalities was compared with national data.

Results: We identified 140 children with IPD; complete data were available for 136 children. The median age at diagnosis was 1.5 years. The social deprivation score of households of children with IPD was higher than that of the average Oxfordshire household (−2.5 v −7.3, p < 0.001). Forty four per cent of cases had at least one preceding health problem. The children with preceding health problems were significantly older than those with no preceding problems (median age 2.67 years, interquartile range 1.21 to 6.20 versus 1.11 years, interquartile range 0.51 to 2.21; p < 0.001). There was an increased risk of IPD for children with central nervous system malformations (OR = 99, 95% CI 31 to 236), congenital heart disease (OR = 62, 95% CI 24 to 131), and chromosomal abnormalities (OR = 32, 95% CI 6.6 to 96).

Conclusions: There is an increased risk of IPD associated with increased social deprivation; and also with central nervous system malformations, congenital heart disease, and chromosomal abnormalities.

Footnotes

  • Sources of support: Cameron Grant was a recipient of the Gavin and Ann Kellaway Medical Research Fellowship and a Royal Australasian College of Physicians Paediatric Travelling Fellowship

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