Meningitis Cases in Uberaba from 2007 to 2021: epidemiological analysis and intervention proposal

Abstract

Introduction: Meningitis is a severe inflammation that can lead to several complications and can even lead to death. Therefore, the present study was motivated by the analysis of the epidemiological situation of the disease in the municipality of Uberaba, in the period from 2007 to 2021, and the identification of factors that contribute to the increase in the lethality rate, thus tracing a project of intervention with strategic measures that improve the survival of the affected patient. Methods: Descriptive and quantitative epidemiological study based on cases of meningitis in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, from 2007 to 2021. For this purpose, data collected from the Notifiable Diseases Information System was used. The intervention proposal was supported by a systematic review of the literature in Google Scholar, Scopus, Pubmed, BVS and Scielo databases. Results: A total of 930 cases of meningitis were reported in Uberaba between 2007 and 2021, which had a prevalence of aseptic meningitis (41.1%), responsible for 53.7% of deaths, followed by meningitis of another etiology or unspecified (39.2%). There was a predominance of male, white and child age group from 1 to 9 years old and adult from 20 to 59 years old. The systematic review of the literature showed intervention measures aimed at the early diagnosis of meningitis. Discussion: The high mortality rate, especially due to aseptic meningitis, can be associated with an erroneous and late diagnosis, which implies a delayed and ineffective treatment. In addition, the lack of virtually instantaneous diagnostic instruments, such as the rapid test, also known as Polymerase Chain Reaction, causes delays in the therapy of the affected patient. Such findings present in the study make use of greater training of professionals and the use of more advanced diagnostic molecular techniques.