title: [Meningococcal meningitis in Costa Rica, 1970--1973. Epidemiological study].
abstract: A retrospective hospital chart review of meningococcal meningitis cases in Costa Rica revealed a large number of cases confirmed in the laboratory by Gram-stained smear and/or culture of spinal fluid. A large percentage of the isolates studied were serogroup C and all of these were sulfonamide resistant. The age-specific attack rates were high in the preschool children with the highest attack rate in children 3 to 5 months of age. Case fatality ratios were 14% overall, with the low fatality rates in individuals 10 to 29 years of age. The outbreak of serogroup C meningitis in 1970--1971 was relatively brief, country-wide, and not predominantly a urban outbreak. The few secondary cases observed occurred within the first 2 weeks of the primary case.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003364:Costa Rica; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged
vernacular_title: Meningitis meningocócica en Costa Rica, 1970--1973 Estudio epidemiológico.