Mortality from pneumococcal meningitis

The records of 207 patients with pneumococcal meningitis admitted to Ahmadu Bello University Hospital, Zaira, northern Nigeria, between February, 1971 and June, 1976 have been reviewed. Mortality was 51%. Death was more likely in patients with a short history, impaired consciousness on admission, and an associated pneumonia. Cerebrospinal fluid levels of protein, lactate, fibrin degradation products, and polysaccharide antigen were higher in patients who died than in survivors.