Perfil clínico-epidemiológico dos casos notificados de meningite no Brasil no período de 2010 a 2020

Abstract

Introduction: Meningitis is defined as an inflammatory disease that affects the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the spinal cord and brain. In Brazil, meningitis is a notifiable disease, meaning that it is mandatory to report cases to health authorities. Consequently, the significant morbidity and mortality rates associated with meningitis, especially the bacterial form, underscore the efforts in public health to gather accurate information regarding etiological agents and at-risk populations. Objectives: To describe the epidemiological profile of reported meningitis cases in Brazil between 2010 and 2020 in terms of reporting region, race, sex, age group, etiology, serogroup, confirmatory criteria, and outcome. Methodology: This is a retrospective, quantitative, cross-sectional study. Clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory data were obtained from the official database of the National Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), maintained by the Ministry of Health, through the Department of Health Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS), for the years 2010 to 2020. Results: After analysis, the average incidence rate during the study period was found to be 7.75 cases per 100,000 population, with a higher occurrence in males (59.02%), adults (34.11%), and individuals of white race (45.26%). The most common etiology was viral meningitis (45.05% of cases), and the most frequently used confirmatory criterion was the chemocytological test (60.55%). The majority of cases (78.38%) resulted in hospital discharge. Conclusion: The findings of this study provide a similar panorama to previous research on the subject. Furthermore, the epidemiological monitoring of meningitis nationwide is an essential measure for prevention and control strategies.