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[Multicenter prospective study on severe bacterial meningitis in children]
J Casado Flores1, M A García Teresa, F Cambra
1Grupo Colaborativo para el Estudio de las Infecciones del SNC en UCI Pediátrica, Hospital Infantil Niño Jesús, Madrid.
Anales Espanoles De Pediatria
|May 20, 1998
Summary
Bacterial meningitis in children is influenced by age, with Haemophilus influenzae type b and Neisseria meningitidis common in infants. Streptococcus pneumoniae showed the highest mortality rate.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Intensive Care Medicine
Context:
- Bacterial meningitis remains a significant cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality.
- Understanding the epidemiology and clinical presentation is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose:
- To prospectively study the epidemiology, clinical signs, and outcomes of bacterial meningitis in children admitted to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
Summary:
- A study of 125 children in Spanish PICUs (1994-1995) found Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and Streptococcus pneumoniae as primary pathogens.
- Age significantly impacts etiological agents, with H. influenzae type b and N. meningitidis having similar incidence in infants.
- S. pneumoniae exhibited the highest mortality rate (37.5%). Coma and seizures at admission were associated with increased mortality.
- Overall mortality was 5.6%, with sequelae like mental retardation and hearing loss in 7.2% of survivors.
Impact:
- Highlights the critical role of age in pediatric meningitis etiology.
- Identifies key pathogens and their age-specific incidence rates.
- Emphasizes the prognostic value of clinical signs like coma and seizures for mortality prediction.
- Informs clinical management and public health strategies for pediatric meningitis prevention and treatment.