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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
10:03
Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery
Published on: November 5, 2019
[Fever during treatment for bacterial meningitis in children]
L P Madsen1, K R Christensen, H T Lund
1Randers Centralsygehus, paediatrisk afdeling.
Ugeskrift for Laeger
|February 11, 1991
Summary
Bacterial meningitis in children often resolves fever within six days. Secondary fever occurred in 38%, particularly with H. Influenzae, but did not correlate with severe outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Clinical microbiology
- Epidemiology of childhood infections
Context:
- Bacterial meningitis remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children.
- Understanding fever patterns is crucial for managing pediatric infectious diseases.
- Antibiotic treatment protocols evolve based on clinical outcomes and resistance patterns.
Purpose:
- To analyze the course of fever in pediatric patients with bacterial meningitis.
- To investigate the relationship between fever patterns (persistent, prolonged, secondary) and the development of sequelae.
- To evaluate the incidence and causes of secondary fever in treated bacterial meningitis cases.
Summary:
- Eighty-seven children (1 month–15 years) with bacterial meningitis treated with ampicillin were studied.
- 94% became afebrile within six days; 10% had persistent fever, 1% prolonged, and 38% developed secondary fever.
- Secondary fever was more common with H. Influenzae; causes included unknown (46%) and drug fever (18%).
Impact:
- Identifies fever patterns in pediatric bacterial meningitis, aiding clinical monitoring.
- Highlights that secondary fever, despite its frequency, did not correlate with severe sequelae in this cohort.
- Informs clinical practice regarding fever management and prognosis in pediatric meningitis.
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