An ecological study: analysis of deaths in the pediatric age group due to meningitis in the State of São Paulo

Abstract

Introduction: Meningitis is infectious and has a diverse etiology, whose main etiological agents are viruses and bacteria. Therefore, the virus represents a greater recurrence. However, the bacterial one is the most alarming, as it has a higher fatality rate. It is imperative to diagnose early and initiate appropriate treatment to reduce the morbidity and mortality of this condition. Objectives: To analyze deaths from meningitis in the pediatric age group in the State of São Paulo. Methods: Retrospective and descriptive ecological study structured by collecting data from the Disease Information and Notification System of the Information Technology Department of the Unified Health System regarding deaths due to meningitis in São Paulo between 2013 and 2023. The variables used were deaths in the age range from children under 1 year old to 19 years old, race and sex. Microsoft Excel software was used for data analysis and tabulation. Results and Discussion: 1257 deaths were reported in the state of São Paulo due to meningitis. The prevalence is higher in age groups under 1 year old, corroborating the literature. Conclusion: The high incidence of deaths suggests flaws in the clinical management of meningitis, pointing to the need for improvements to ensure early diagnosis and adequate treatment so that it is possible to reduce the morbidity and mortality of this disease.