Outcome of paediatric bacterial meningitis 1979-1989.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the outcome of all cases of paediatric bacterial meningitis over the 11-year period 1979-1989 and discuss the role of adjunctive therapy with dexamethasone.


METHODS
The study was performed by retrospective case review at Flinders Medical Centre, a general teaching hospital.


RESULTS
There were 80 episodes in 79 patients. The age range was 2 days to 15 years (mean, 1.7 years). Haemophilus influenzae type b was the commonest organism (60 of 80 cases; 75%). There were five deaths (6.3%). Sensorineural hearing loss was found in six of 71 children (8.5%) and was bilateral and severe in four (5.6%). Other problems included learning difficulties (12.7%), motor problems (7%), speech delay (7%), hyperactivity (4.2%), blindness (2.8%), obstructive hydrocephalus (2.8%) and recurrent seizures (2.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Bacterial meningitis remains a disease with significant morbidity and mortality. Adjunctive therapy with dexamethasone should be considered, and vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b should be routine.
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000209:etiology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D013021:South Australia; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone