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Listeria meningitis in children: report of two cases
M Economou1, S Karyda, A Kansouzidou
1Dept. of Pediatrics, Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Abstract:
We report two cases of meningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes in children. The first patient was a healthy 14-month-old boy and the second patient a 3-year-old girl with Byler disease which, however, is not reported as a predisposing factor for listeriosis. We present these cases because Listeria infection, although common in neonates, is extremely infrequent during infancy and childhood.
Insights
Two children developed meningitis from Listeria monocytogenes, a rare occurrence in childhood. These cases highlight the importance of considering Listeria infection in pediatric meningitis, even without typical risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Listeria monocytogenes is a known cause of meningitis, particularly in neonates.
- Infections in infants and children beyond the neonatal period are considered rare.
Observation:
- Two pediatric cases of Listeria monocytogenes meningitis are presented.
- The first patient was a 14-month-old healthy male.
- The second patient was a 3-year-old female with Byler disease, a condition not previously associated with listeriosis.
Findings:
- The study documents two instances of Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in children.
- One patient was healthy, while the other had Byler disease, suggesting potential, albeit unconfirmed, associations.
Implications:
- These cases underscore the need to consider Listeria monocytogenes in the differential diagnosis of meningitis in children.
- Further research may be warranted to explore risk factors for listeriosis in non-neonatal pediatric populations.
- Early recognition and treatment are crucial for improving outcomes in pediatric meningitis.