Title
Surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis in the Netherlands, 1992-94
Author
Oostvogel, P.M.
van Conyn-Spaendonck, M.A.E.
Hirasing, R.A.
van Loon, A.M.
TNO Preventie en Gezondheid
Publication year
1998
Abstract
Detection and investigation of call cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in children below 15 years of age are among the criteria for poliomyelitis-free certification. In the absence of poliomyelitis the incidence of AFP is around 1 per 100 000 children aged < 15 years. In the Netherlands, surveillance of AFP began in October 1992 under the supervision of the Dutch Paediatric Surveillance System (NSCK). Over 90% of clinically active pediatricians participated in the monthly reporting of new cases of AFP. From October 1992 to December 1994 (27 months), 52 cases of AFP were reported. The incidence was 0.7 per 100 000 over the period, and reported cases were evenly distributed throughout the country. The main cause of AFP was Guillain-Barre syndrome. The average time between onset of symptoms and visiting a doctor was less than 3 days. The median reporting delay was 29 days, although the system was not intended as surveillance for action. Virological examination of faeces was carried out for only 40.4% of AFP patients. The start of the NSCK surveillance system coincided with the 1992- 93 outbreak of poliomyelitis in the Netherlands, but only 7 of the 18 children with paralytic poliomyelitis were reported through the AFP surveillance system. For certification purposes, the present AFP surveillance system in the Netherlands needs to be improved with respect to coverage by including neurologists, rapidity of reporting, and completeness of laboratory investigations.
Subject
Health
Acute disease
Feces analysis
Guillain barre syndrome
Health survey
Major clinical study
Poliomyelitis
Adolescent
Age Distribution
Child
Child, Preschool
Feasibility Studies
Female
Humans
Incidence
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Muscle Hypotonia
Netherlands
Paralysis
Polyradiculoneuropathy
Population Surveillance
Sensitivity and Specificity
Sex Distribution
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TNO identifier
234504
ISSN
0042-9686
Source
Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 76 (1), 55-62
Document type
article