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Group B streptococcal meningitis in a 5-year-old boy
Sanjeev Managoli1, Pushpa Chaturvedi, Krishna Y Vilhekar
1Department of Pediatrics, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Wardha, Maharashtra, India. drsanjeevsm@yahoo.com
Insights
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) can cause serious infections in infants. This case highlights GBS meningitis in a 5-year-old, emphasizing the need for awareness beyond the neonatal period.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
- Clinical Microbiology
Background:
- Group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) is a primary cause of neonatal infections.
- The spectrum of invasive GBS disease is expanding to include older children and adults.
- Limited data exists on invasive GBS infections, particularly meningitis, in children over three months old.
Observation:
- A previously healthy 5-year-old boy presented with uncomplicated meningitis.
- The causative agent was identified as Group B Streptococcus.
Findings:
- This case represents GBS meningitis in a pediatric patient significantly older than the typical neonatal demographic.
- A review of existing literature on GBS meningitis beyond infancy was conducted.
Implications:
- Highlights the potential for GBS to cause meningitis in older children.
- Underscores the importance of considering GBS in the differential diagnosis of meningitis in non-neonatal pediatric populations.
- Suggests a need for further research into GBS epidemiology and clinical manifestations in older children.
Abstract:
Group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) is a well-known cause of early and late onset infections in neonates and very young infants. Recently attention has focused on the changing spectrum of invasive Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease, including children beyond early infancy and non-pregnant adults. There is very little information available on invasive GBS infection especially meningitis in pediatric population older than three months of age. We report a case of uncomplicated meningitis due to GBS in a previously healthy 5-year-old boy. The literature on infection especially meningitis caused by Group B Streptococcus beyond infancy is reviewed.