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Written question asked by Edward O'Hara (Labour) on Wednesday, 4 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 April 2001. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Thursday, 26 April 2001 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research he is conducting into the incidence of cases of attention deficit and hyperactivity syndrome which may be related to meningitis C injections; what change there has been in recorded cases of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder between 1st November 1999 and 28th February 2001; how many cases of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder have been recorded between 1st November 1999 and 28th February 2001, which are related to yellow cards submitted in connection with meningitis C injections.
Answer

Mr. O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research he is conducting into the incidence of cases of attention deficit and hyperactivity syndrome which may be related to meningitis C injections; [157550] (2) what change there has been in recorded cases of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder between 1 November 1999 and 28 February 2001; [157554] (3) how many cases of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder have been recorded between 1 November 1999 and 28 February 2001, which are related to yellow cards submitted in connection with meningitis C injections. [157551] Yvette Cooper: The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the Committee on Safety of Medicine (CSM) has received one report through the Yellow Card Scheme of hyperactivity aggravated in a child with a history of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in association with the meningitis C vaccines. There have been no reports of Hyperkinetic Disorder or any other term related to ADHD. ADHD is being increasingly recognised in the United Kingdom as a significant mental health problem among children and adolescents and to a lesser extent, among adults. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has estimated that approximately 1 per cent. of all school-aged children (about 69,000 six to 16-year-olds in England) met the diagnostic criteria for Hyperkinetic Disorder, the more severe type of ADHD. The prevalence of all types of ADHD is considerably higher, around 5 per cent. of school-aged children (345,000 six to 16-year-olds in England). There are no data on the change in recorded cases of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder between 1 November 1999 and 28 February 2001 as this information is not collected centrally. No research is currently being conducted into the incidence of cases of attention deficit and hyperactivity syndrome which may be related to meningitis C injections.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
367 c329-30W; 157550;157554;157551
Session
2000-01
Subjects
ADHD Vaccination Meningitis
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk