[Previous antibiotic treatment in meningococcal infections]

Seventy four cases of meningococcal infection were studied. They attended the "Valle del Nalón" Hospital in Asturias, from february 1979 until january 1985. Seven children died (9.4%). We divided them into two groups: A, without any previous antibiotic treatment when they arrived at the hospital (58 cases), and B, with previous antibiotic treatment (16 cases). All the children who died belonged to group A. Only 56.2% from group B had petechias, contrasting greatly with the 93.1% in group A. The most predominant meningococcus was from the serum group B. In the 22 cases of meningitis brainstem auditory evoked response was carried out to detect any hearing impairment. This was found in 21.7% of the cases.