Countries: New Zealand

Name

New Zealand Paediatric Surveillance Unit (NZPSU)

Website

www.otago.ac.uk/nzpsu

 Year established

1997

Association

Paediatric Society of New Zealand
New Zealand Ministry of Health
University of Otago

Population under 15 years

0.83 million

General information

The NZPSU is co-directed by Professor Barry Taylor and Dr Nigel Dickson. From the beginning the NZPSU has received financial support from the New Zealand Ministry for Health to provide active surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis as part of WHO's polio eradication initiative. Covering a child population of 0.83 million, each month over 200 paediatricians are circulated with a surveillance card. The response rate has remained high at 94%, with a high completion rate.. The unit is working closely with the APSU. Protocols and questionnaires developed for some APSU studies are being used for some NZPSU studies. This process will allow identical data to be collected simultaneously in two geographically distinct populations.

Conditions studied

The following studies are currently being surveyed

Acute flaccid paralysis, congenital rubella, perinatal HIV exposure, haemolytic uraemic syndrome, vitamin k deficiency bleeding, inborn error of metabolism and pneumoccocal meningitis. Acute Post streptococcal Glomerulnephritis (APSGN), Serious Paediatric Adverse Drug Reactions( ADR’s) and proven neonatal bacterial or fungal infection in the first week of life

Contact

Professor B Taylor, Dr N Dickson, Ms Amanda Phillips
Dept of Paediatrics and Child Health
Dunedin School of Medicine,
University of Otago, PO Box 913,
Dunedin, New Zealand

Tel: 0064 3 474 7825 Fax: 0064 3 474 7817
Email: nzpsu@stonebow.otago.ac.nz