Resumen

ECHEZURIA, Luis; LEON, Raiza; RODRIGUEZ, Eva  y  RISQUEZ, Alejandro. Epidemiología de la meningitis Venezuela 2010. Arch Venez Puer Ped [online]. 2010, vol.73, n.4, pp.029-036. ISSN 0004-0649.

Meningitis constitutes an important public health problem in Venezuela that affects children, specially under 5 years of age. Antimeningococcal, anti-pneumococcal, vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type b and BCG induce pediatricians to review the dynamics of the morbidity and mortality of these diseases. The most common etiology is the viral followed by bacterial meningitis followed by tuberculosis, while little is known of the fungal or other causes. Epidemiological surveillance systems show high figures of the incidence which warrant a more intense public health action to monitor, prevent and improve national programs of immunization and their vaccine coverage, and to treat medically any infectious cause of meningitis.

Palabras clave : epidemiology; morbility; mortality; meningitis.