Haemophilus influenzae type b disease in north-west England.

A study was made in the north-west of England during 1989 in order to ascertain the incidence of serious Haemophilus influenzae infection, its short-term morbidity and certain characteristics of treatment. The incidence of culture-proven infection was 28 per 100,000 children under 5 years of age. Case fatality was 3%, one of the deaths being in a 6-year-old child. Some of the information obtained will help to assess the cost-effectiveness of the new vaccine to be administered to children in the U.K. The mean length of stay in hospital for all cases was 10 days. Of a total of 87 patients, 20 (23%) were admitted to an intensive therapy unit while five were transferred from a district general hospital to a regional paediatric unit. The estimated average cost per episode of acute care was 2700 pounds. Antibiotic regimens varied considerably.