La vigilancia epidemiológica y su papel en los programas de inmunización

Abstract

Epidemiological surveillance activities offer a scientifc basis for conducting mass programs of immunization against communicable diseases. The numerous surveillance methods available for use in immunization programs (mortality registration; immunological surveys; demographic, socio-economic, and environmental data; the situation in neighboring countries; etc.) will vary from country to country, depending on the epidemiological situation and other existing factors, as well as on the communicable disease in question. The following seven diseases are considered: smallpox, poliomyelitis, measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, and tuberculosis

Surveillance is easier in some cases, such as smallpox, whereas in others, such as poliomyelitis and certain other infections, surveillance activities are of paramount importance for a recognition of the problem, public health decisions, evaluation of a control program, and epidemiological forecasts

Examples of poliomyelitis vaccination programs are cited, as well as the results of serological investigations on measles, immunologic surveys on diphtheria, and vaccination programs against whooping cough, which continues to be a serious public health problem. For tetanus it is recommended that antitetanic serum be discontinued whenever a given population group has a high percentage of antitoxic immunity. In tuberculosis the indication is that when ...(AU)