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[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
PubMed

Insights

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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