Scarlet fever in Poland in 2011.

OBJECTIVE

Assessment of the epidemiological situation of scarlet fever in Poland in 2011 MATERIALS AND MATHODS: The evaluation was performed by analysing the data published in the bulletin, "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2011" (Warsaw 2012, NIPH-NIH, CSI) and also in bulletins from previous years.

RESULTS

Since 2004 in Poland has been observed epidemic increase in the number of scarlet fever cases. However, the growth rate is significantly slower and incidence is considerably lower than in previous epidemic periods. In 2011, in the country a total of 18 267 cases were registered and incidence was 47.4 per 100,000 population (in provinces: from 23.4 in Łódzkie to 68.0 in Slaskie). The highest incidence was notified in 5-year-old and 6-year-old children (782.4), whereas the incidence of children and young people up to 15 years accounted for 96.9% of all cases. The incidence of men 53.7 by almost 30% was higher than the incidence of women (41.6). The incidence was higher in urban areas than in rural areas and was 53.3 (in rural area 38.3). 1.1% of patients were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

SUMMARY: An impact on the epidemiological situation of scarlet fever in Poland in the last two decades have i.a. demographic changes--decline in the population of children, i.e. in group which is particularly vulnerable to infection. In order to raising the reliability of surveillance data, it is recommended a prominent heightening of the percentage of cases which clinical diagnosis would be confirmed by the result of bacteriological examination.