EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF DIFERENT ETIOLOGICAL AGENTS CAUSING MENINGITIS IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF BRAZIL IN THE YEAR 2022

Abstract

Objective: Meningitis is an infectious process that can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and non-infectious agents. It is a notifiable disease transmitted by droplets or secretions. The clinical presentation is highly variable, with the most classic symptoms being headache, neck stiffness, fever, nausea, vomiting, prostration, confusion, and the Kernig and Brudzinski signs. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of different pathogens causing meningitis in Brazil in 2022, correlating it with age group and region. Methods: The Datasus website and data obtained from the Ministry of Health, made publicly available, were used. Patients aged over 1 year to over 60 years from the North, Northeast, Southeast, South, and Central-West regions were selected. Patients were also categorized by different types of pathogens: meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Haemophilus influenzae, other unspecified bacteria, and viral pathogens. Results: The results of this study may assist in the development of protocols for the specific diagnosis and treatment of meningitis, differentiating between the main pathogens, the primary affected groups, and correlating groups with pathogens.