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Childhood meningitis at King Fahad Hospital, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia

A A Laditan1, I Odame, O Ogundipe

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, King Fahad Hospital, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.

Annals of Saudi Medicine
|March 6, 2007
PubMed

Insights

This study reviewed 132 children with meningitis, finding viral meningitis increased in incidence. Bacterial meningitis was most commonly caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B, particularly in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Meningitis remains a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality.
  • Understanding the epidemiology and causative agents of meningitis is crucial for effective public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence, types, management, and outcomes of meningitis in children.
  • To identify the primary pathogens responsible for bacterial meningitis in the study population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of medical records of 132 children treated for meningitis.
  • Classification of cases into bacterial, partially treated, and viral meningitis groups.
  • Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) isolates for bacterial meningitis.

Main Results:

  • A total of 132 children were analyzed, with a higher incidence observed in the second year of the study (1995/96).
  • Viral meningitis showed a sharp increase in incidence during the latter half of the study period.
  • Bacterial meningitis accounted for 27.3% of cases, with Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB) being the most common isolate (66.7%).
  • Approximately half of HIB meningitis cases occurred in infants under 12 months of age.

Conclusions:

  • The study highlights a notable increase in viral meningitis incidence.
  • Haemophilus influenzae type B is a primary pathogen in childhood bacterial meningitis, especially in infants.
  • Effective management and prevention strategies for both viral and bacterial meningitis are essential.

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