Epidemiology of Guillain-BarréSyndrome in Iranian Children Aged 0-15 Years (2008-2013)

Abstract Objective: Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory polyneuropathy characterized by a rapid progressive symmetric weakness. This is the most common cause of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) in most parts of the world. This study was carried out to investigate the epidemiological features of GBS in Iranian children. Materials & Methods: Data were extracted using the AFP surveillance system: a National screening program to detect all cases of AFP aged 0-15 years, around the country. National Population Statistics data and AFP demographic data during 2008-2013 intervals was obtained from the relevant authorities in ministry of health. GBS cases were then extracted from this data base. Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis. Results: 1884 cases of GBS were identified in years of study and average annual incidence rate was 1.72 per 100,000 populations. The highest incidence rate was in the range of 0-5 years. There was no statistically significant relation between the incidence of GBS and the season in the whole country. Conclusion: High costs of GBS treatment, morbidity and occasional mortality and the number of new cases which is estimated to be about 300 people per year, need particular attention of health system

Complications following Bacille Calmette-Guérin Vaccination in Children under the Age of 18 Months: A Multi-center Study

Background: The BCG vaccine, used since 1921 to prevent tuberculosis (TB), considered the world's most widely used vaccine. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and the type of complications associated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination in Iranian children. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study conducted for 6months among children aged up to 18 months who presented to primary health care centers in Tehran (under supervision of all three Medical Universities of Tehran) for their routine vaccinations. All children had received BCG vaccination at birth. We investigated the occurrence of BCG complications through history taking from the parents and physical examination by the study physician. Complications categorized into four major groups: local, regional, remote, and generalized and the rate of occurrence compared between the two genders. Results: Finally, 14,095 children enrolled during the study period; 574 patients (4%) had experienced at least one complication following BCG vaccination. The most common complications were local side effects observed in 304 children (2.1%); followed by lymph node involvement detected in 270 children (1.9%). Lymph node involvement was more common in males (

Effect of Haemophilus influenzae Type b Vaccination on Nasopharyngeal Carriage Rate in Children, Tehran, 2019

Background. Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) strains, which commonly reside as commensals within the human pharynx and can remain as an asymptomatic carrier, but become invasive leading to pneumonia, septic arthritis, or meningitis. The Pentavac (pentavalent vaccine, manufactured by India, SII (DTwP-HepB-Hib)) was introduced to the Iranian National Immunization Plan in November 2014. The aim of this study is to investigate H. influenzae type b (Hib) carrier rate among children under 6 years old in Tehran. Methods. This cross-sectional study was performed on 902 children including vaccinated/unvaccinated in the age of 6 months to 6 years, in Tehran. Sampling was performed from July 2019 to September 2019. Nasopharyngeal samples were taken from children by sterile swab. The PCR method was used to extract DNA. Then, all H. influenzae isolates were initially confirmed by molecular tests. BexA was used to distinguish typeable H. influenzae strains from nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). Results. A total of 902 children were enrolled in the study: 452 were female (51%). H. influenzae carriage rate was 267 (29%), of that 150 samples (16.6%) were typeable. The nasopharyngeal Hib carrier rate in the children was 2.6% (24/902). 262 cases did not receive Hib vaccine. Analysis in nonnursery’s children aged 4 to 6 (unvaccinated) years showed that the lower educational level of father, mother, and family number correlated with increased odds of colonization of children with Hib. Conclusion. Our findings showed a significant decrease (60%) in the overall Hib nasopharyngeal carriage in healthy children under six years after 5 years after the start of Hib vaccination

Vaccine-Derived Polioviruses and Children with Primary Immunodeficiency, Iran, 1995–2014

Widespread use of oral poliovirus vaccine has led to an ≈99.9% decrease in global incidence of poliomyelitis (from ≈350,000 cases in 1988 to 74 cases in 2015) and eradication of wild-type poliovirus serotypes 2 and 3. However, patients with primary immunodeficiency might shed vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPVs) for an extended period, which could pose a major threat to polio eradication programs. Since 1995, sixteen VDPV populations have been isolated from 14 patients with immunodeficiency in Iran. For these patients, vaccine-associated paralysis, mostly in >1 extremity, was the first manifestation of primary immunodeficiency. Seven patients with humoral immunodeficiency cleared VDPV infection more frequently than did 6 patients with combined immunodeficiencies. Our results raise questions about manifestations of VDPVs in immunodeficient patients and the role of cellular immunity against enterovirus infections. On the basis of an association between VDPVs and immunodeficiency, we advocate screening of patients with primary immunodeficiency for shedding of polioviruses

Cost-effectiveness analysis of the introduction of rotavirus vaccine in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Although the mortality from diarrheal diseases has been decreasing dramatically in Iran, it still represents an important proportion of disease burden in children <5 years old. Rotavirus vaccines are among the most effective strategies against diarrheal diseases in specific epidemiological conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the introduction of rotavirus vaccine (3 doses of pentavalent RotaTeq (RV5)) in Iran, from the viewpoints of Iran's health system and society. METHODS: The TRIVAC decision support model was used to calculate total incremental costs, life years (LYs) gained, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted due to the vaccination program. Necessary input data were collected from the most valid accessible sources as well as a systematic review and meta-analysis on epidemiological studies. We used WHO guidelines to estimate vaccination cost. An annual discount rate of 3% was considered for both health gain and costs. A deterministic sensitivity analysis was performed for testing the robustness of the models results. RESULTS: Our results indicated that total DALYs potentially lost due to rotavirus diarrhea within 10 years would be 138,161, of which 76,591 could be prevented by rotavirus vaccine. The total vaccination cost for 10 cohorts was estimated to be US$499.91 million. Also, US$ 470.61 million would be saved because of preventing outpatient visits and inpatient admissions (cost-saving from the society perspective). We estimated a cost per DALY averted of US$ 2868 for RV5 vaccination, which corresponds to a highly cost-effective strategy from the government perspective. In the sensitivity analysis, all scenarios tested were still cost-saving or highly cost-effective from the society perspective, except in the least favorable scenario and low vaccine efficacy and disease incidence scenario. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, introduction of rotavirus vaccine is a highly cost-effective strategy from the government perspective. Introducing the vaccine to the national immunization program is an efficient use of available funds to reduce child mortality and morbidity in Iran