Study of acute flaccid paralysis surveillance system in Kerman (Iran) for one decade

Abstract

Background -During the past decade, polio eradication has stalled globally. Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance is a key strategy for monitoring the progress of polio eradication. All AFP patients who referred to expert committee were evaluated about the causes. Methods -This case series study is the result of activities for one decade of expert AFP committee of Kerman University of Medical Sciences from 2002-2011, with coverage of more than 2,650,000 populations and 730,677 child with age of ≤15 years old. All patients have gone under diagnostic and therapeutic managements. Results -The total cases referred to Kerman expert committee of AFP for ten years were 147 cases. In our study the incidence of AFP was 2.016 per 100000 populations for one year.The most common causes of AFP were Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). Other causes of AFP were; stroke, synovitis, myelitis, seizures, cerebral palsy, viral infections, tumors, cerebellitis and non-polio AFP. The rate of GBS in our study was 0.96 per 100000 in children 15 years old or smaller, and more in male. In this study the incidence rate in cities with low mean temperature was higher than in cities with high mean temperature. Conclusion -We had no polio case in this period. The most common cause of AFPs was Guillain-Barre syndrome. The incidence of GBS was higher in areas with low mean temperature.

Eleven-year surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis in southwestern Iran

“…In this study, we found an increased incidence of AFP in 2009 and 2010, but no precipitating factor could be identified. Ebrahimi et al 21 in a similar study in Kerman, a region in central Iran, have also reported the increased incidence of AFP cases in 2009. Increasing incidence of AFP in this period may be caused by an infection, vaccination, and many other factors such as the increase in AFP incidence after vaccination.…”