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Author Affiliations: Institute of Epidemiology of Medical Faculty of Charles University, Pilsen (Pazdiora P), Clinic of Infectious Diseases of the University Hospital in Pilsen (Štruncov¨¢ V), Institute of Microbiology of the University Hospital in Pilsen (Švecov¨¢ M), Regional Hygiene Station of Pilsen Region (Pazdiora P), Czech Republic
Corresponding Author: Petr Pazdiora, MD, PhD, Regional Hygiene Station of Pilsen Region, Skr¨¦tova 15, Plze¨¾ 303 22, Czech Republic (Tel: +420377402926; Fax: +420377426083; Email: pazdiora@fnplzen.cz)
doi: 10.1007/s12519-012-0383-z
Background: The Czech Republic ranks among the countries with the highest prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis worldwide. The region of West Bohemia has the second highest morbidity within the Czech Republic.
Methods: Between 1960 and 2007, laboratories confirmed 410 cases of tick-borne encephalitis in children and adolescents of West Bohemia. Available epidemiological data were analyzed.
Results: The highest incidence (per 100 000 population) was found in the group of 15-19 years for both genders (males: 6.2; females: 4.3). Data on the consumption of non-pasteurized milk were found in 5.4% of patients. The preschool age group showed its highest incidence in June and September, and the risk of infection for older children was in July and August.
Conclusions: The current low coverage of vaccination leads to an insignificant improvement to the overall frequency of this disease.
Key words: children; tick-borne encephalitis; transmission; vaccines
World J Pediatr 2012;8(4):363-366
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