EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF MENINGITIS CASES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN THE STATE OF PARANÁ IN 2024

Abstract

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the connective membranes that surround the central nervous system: the dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater. In Brazil, it is considered an endemic disease with compulsory notification, with cases occurring throughout the year. This syndrome can be caused by different infectious agents, with bacterial meningitis being more frequent during autumn and winter, while viral meningitis is more prevalent in spring and summer. The objective of this study is to analyze the epidemiological profile of the pediatric and adolescent population affected by this disease in the state of Paraná in 2024. The evaluation of these data aims to establish the state scenario of meningitis in children and adolescents aged 0 to 19 years. This is a quantitative, descriptive, and retrospective study, based on data from the Brazilian Unified Health System (DataSUS). Results: A total of 199 meningitis cases were confirmed in Paraná in 2024 among individuals aged 0 to 19 years. Of these, 60.3% were male and 39.7% female. The distribution by age group was as follows: <1 year (50.3%), 1–4 years (21.6%), 5–9 years (14.6%), 10–14 years (8.5%), and 15–19 years (5%). The most frequently used confirmatory criterion was cerebrospinal fluid cytochemical analysis (68.3%). Other methods included viral PCR (9%), culture (8%), clinical diagnosis (8%), latex antigen test (3.5%), and clinical-epidemiological criteria (1.5%). Bacterioscopy and viral isolation each accounted for 0.5%, and other unspecified methods also represented 0.5%.