[Bacterial meningitis with a low leukocyte count at the beginning of hospital treatment]

The clinical pictures and the course of bacterial meningitides in 7 patients with leukocytes in the peripheral blood below 6.0 x 10(9)/l was examined out of 7 patients 6 were female and 1 male, from 7 months to 56 years of age, the mean age X = 22.3 years. At the beginning of the hospital treatment, patients from this group were more frequently afebrile or subfebrile (5 patients) meningitic signs significant (4 patients). Parameters of nonspecific inflammatory response in blood, SE and fibrinogenaemia were less expressed, while the response in liquor to bacterial infection was normal. Gram-negative bacteria were more frequently isolated among etiologically established causes of meningitides. In patients with leukocytes below 6.0 x 10(9)/l, purulent meningitides were more often serious and very serious diseases (4). There were no complications in some patients and 5 patients were completely cured (71.42%), while in 2 patients (28.58%) there was a mild hyperproteinorrachia in the liquor at the time of leaving hospital.