Childhood bacterial meningitis

Abstract

The causative microorganisms were cultured and recovered from cerebrospinal fluid in 105 of 161 children with bacterial meningitis in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia from July 1982 through June 1985. The bacteria grown included Hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in 44 patients, Streptococcus pneumoniae in 25 patients, and Neisseria meningitidis in 12 patients. These amounted to about 80% of all proved cases of childhood bacterial meningitis. In 56 of the 161 children, causative pathogens were not identified. However, the clinical presentation, signs, and CSF findings were compatible with the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Comparison of the age-specific occurrence of various causes of meningitis was made. Hib infection occurred primarily during infancy, although these organisms were not recovered from infants as young as 1 to 2 months of age. Fourteen percent of Hib strains were resistant to ampicillin.