Prospective surveillance of children with invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease in Taiwan.

During the 16 months from January 1, 1996 through April 30, 1997, forty-three cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease were identified in residents younger than 14 years of age in Taiwan. H. influenzae serotyping was performed on all isolated specimens. There were 33 (76.7%) cases of type b disease; three (7.0%), non-type b, and seven (16.3%), nontypeable cases. Among these H. influenzae type b cases, there were 18 (54.5%) male patients and 15 (45.5%) female patients. With regard to age-distribution, nine (27.3%) patients were aged 2 to 5 years; nine (27.3%), between 1 to 2 years; fifteen (45.5%), younger than 1; and none were younger than 3 months old. Demographical study indicated that 13 patients (39.4%) located in northern Taiwan; 5 (15.2%), central Taiwan; 12 (36.4%), southern Taiwan; 3 (9.0%) from eastern Taiwan. Among the 33 H. influenzae type b cases, twenty-five (75.8%) patients had meningitis and 8 patients had other disease entities, i.e. pneumonia in 4 patients, bacteremia in 3, and cellulitis in 1. In terms of prognosis, three (9.1%) patients died, all of whom having meningitis or sepsis; 7 (21.2%) developed hydrocephalus; 2 (6.1%) had seizure disorder without hydrocephalus and 21 (63.6%) patients recovered completely without sequelae.