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Ronald M. Laxer, MD; Melvin I. Marks, MD

Am J Dis Child. 1977;131(8):850-853.

Abstract
• We review the clinical and laboratory features of 79 children with 83 episodes of pneumococcal meningitis over a 26-year period. The onset of illness was often severe, with convulsions occurring in 31% of the patients. The mortality was 10.8% and all deaths occurred in patients younger than 1 year of age; the death rate has dropped from 19% in the 1948 to 1962 era to 3% from 1963 to 1973. The association of pneumonia with meningitis, the presence of hypoglycorrhachia, and an increased CSF protein concentration were associated with a poor prognosis; bacteremia and convulsions were also more common in the fatal cases. Neurologic sequelae including recurrent meningitis, deafness, hydrocephalus, convulsions, and retardation were present in 56% of the patients observed. Findings from EEGs did not correlate well with the clinical picture during the acute or convalescent stage of the illness. Despite accurate diagnosis, prompt therapy, and a decrease in the mortality in the past decade, pneumococcal meningitis in children is still often associated with a serious outcome.

(Am J Dis Child 131:850-853, 1977)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases), McGill University, and the McGill University-Montreal Children's Hospital Research Institute, Montreal.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Montreal Children's Hospital, 2300 Tupper St, Montreal, Quebec H3H 1P3, Canada (Dr Marks).

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