PL EN
RESEARCH PAPER
Meningitis and encephalitis in Poland in 2023
 
More details
Hide details
1
Zakład Epidemiologii Chorób Zakaźnych i Nadzoru Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego PZH – PIB
 
 
Submission date: 2025-01-28
 
 
Final revision date: 2025-02-24
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-03-06
 
 
Online publication date: 2025-03-20
 
 
Corresponding author
Karolina Mrozowska-Nyckowska   

Zakład Epidemiologii Chorób Zakaźnych i Nadzoru Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego PZH – PIB
 
 
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background: In Poland, meningitis and/or encephalitis, regardless of etiology, are subject to routine epidemiological surveillance. This paper presents an analysis of meningitis and/or encephalitis in 2023, caused by Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and tick-borne encephalitis virus. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the epidemiological situation of meningitis and encephalitis in Poland in 2023 taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods: To evaluate the epidemiological situation of neuroinfections in Poland, data sent to NIPH NIH–NRI by the Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations and published in the annual bulletin: "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2023" and "Vaccinations in Poland in 2023" as well as individual epidemiological reports registered in the EpiBaza system. Results: In 2023, there were 2754 cases of meningitis and/or encephalitis, an increase of 57.6% compared to 2022 (1748 cases) and 22.5% against 2019 (2249 cases). Incidences of bacterial etiology, including neuroborreliosis, increased by 39.7% (from 848 in 2022 to 1185 in 2023, incidence: 2.24 to 3.14 per 100,000). The incidence for N. meningitidis increased by 17.6(from 0.17 to 0.20), for H. influenzae by 125% (from 0.04 to 0.09), and for S. pneumoniae by 30.9% (from 0.55 to 0.72). Viral infections accounted for 57% of the total, and their number increased by 74.3% (from 900 in 2022 to 1,569 in 2023). The highest number of viral infections was for tick-borne encephalitis, with 661 cases (up 48.2%). Conclusions: 2023 showed an overall upward trend in the number of registered cases of meningitis and/or encephalitis of bacterial and viral etiology compared to 2022. The number of cases was 22.5% higher than in 2019, the period before the COVID-19 pandemic. These results indicate significant changes in the epidemiological situation, which may be due to improved diagnosis, a change in epidemiological trends and a higher number of reported cases. The observed increase underscores the need for further monitoring and implementation of effective preventive measures to reduce future cases.
FUNDING
The work was carried out as part of task No. BE-1.2025
eISSN:2545-1898
ISSN:0033-2100
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top