Meningitis in the central Arctic: a 4-year experience

There were 37 cases of meningitis during a 4-year period among the native and white populations served by the Churchill Health Centre in northern Manitoba, an annual incidence of 128 per 100 000 in the overall population and of 202 per 100 000 among the Inuit. Bacterial meningitis predominated; Neis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Medical Association journal 1981-04, Vol.124 (7), p.887-890
Main Authors: Wotton, K. A, Stiver, H. G, Hildes, J. A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arctic Regions
European Continental Ancestry Group
Humans
Indians, North American
Inuits
Manitoba
Meningitis - complications
Meningitis - epidemiology
Meningitis - mortality
Meningitis, Haemophilus - epidemiology
Meningitis, Meningococcal - epidemiology
Rural Health
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Summary:There were 37 cases of meningitis during a 4-year period among the native and white populations served by the Churchill Health Centre in northern Manitoba, an annual incidence of 128 per 100 000 in the overall population and of 202 per 100 000 among the Inuit. Bacterial meningitis predominated; Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae each accounted for one third of the cases. There were five deaths, and 14 of the survivors had severe sequelae. Therefore, although the doctors and nurses involved in the study had improved access to telecommunication and air transportation services in caring for patients in isolated northern settlements, and despite their efforts to be vigilant for possible cases of meningitis and to begin vigorous treatment early, the incidence, morbidity and mortality of this disease remained relatively high, particularly among the Inuit.
ISSN:0008-4409