A spatial and temporal analysis of paediatric central nervous system infections from 2005 to 2015 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract

Central nervous system infections (CNSI) are a leading cause of death and long-term disability in children. Using ICD-10 data from 2005 to 2015 from three central hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, we exploited generalized additive mixed models (GAMM) to examine the spatial-temporal distribution and spatial and climatic risk factors of paediatric CNSI, excluding tuberculous meningitis, in this setting. From 2005 to 2015, there were 9469 cases of paediatric CNSI; 33% were ⩽1 year old at admission and were mainly diagnosed with presumed bacterial CNSI (BI) (79%), the remainder were >1 year old and mainly diagnosed with presumed non-bacterial CNSI (non-BI) (59%). The urban districts of HCMC in proximity to the hospitals as well as some outer districts had the highest incidences of BI and non-BI; BI incidence was higher in the dry season. Monthly BI incidence exhibited a significant decreasing trend over the study. Both BI and non-BI were significantly associated with lags in monthly average temperature, rainfall, and river water level. Our findings add new insights into this important group of infections in Vietnam, and highlight where resources for the prevention and control of paediatric CNSI should be allocated.

Spatial epidemiology of Japanese encephalitis virus and other infections of the central nervous system in Lao PDR (2003 – 2011): a retrospective analysis

“…A similar spatial pattern was described from an epidemiological analysis of CNS infections among children admitted to Ho Chi Minh City hospitals in Vietnam – with most patients coming from districts near the hospital [18]. While the majority of infections (55%) in the Vietnam study were presumed to be bacterial in origin, in this study from Lao PDR bacterial infections were identified in only 38% (170 out of 450 patients with diagnoses).…”

Spatial epidemiology of Japanese encephalitis virus and other infections of the central nervous system infections in Lao PDR (2003–2011): A retrospective analysis

“…A similar spatial pattern was described from an epidemiological analysis of CNS infections among children admitted to Ho Chi Minh City hospitals in Vietnam-with most patients coming from districts near the hospital [21]. While the majority of infections (55%) in the Vietnam study were presumed to be bacterial in origin, in this study from Lao PDR bacterial infections were identified in only 38% (170 out of 450 patients with diagnoses).…”

“…are increasingly recognized as important causes [9]. Detailed analyses that confirm the cause of CNS related infections or assess their spatial and temporal distribution in the region are rare [10][11][12][13]. Several CNS infections are vaccine preventable, however high costs of some vaccines, and geographic accessibility can limit their reach.…”

Climate change and human health in Vietnam: a systematic review and additional analyses on current impacts, future risk, and adaptation

“… 43 , 110 , 128 , 130 , 131 The heterogeneity of the effects of rainfalls on hand-foot-mouth disease was higher than that of temperatures or humidity. 132 Other IDs such as children's nervous system infection, 134 plague, 135 AIDS-associated Penicillium marneffei infection, 136 or rabies 130 were only mentioned in a few studies with insufficient information on climate-infectious disease association.…”