[Meningococcal disease in western Galilee].
79 patients with meningococcal disease were evaluated retrospectively between 1972-1986. All the neisseria isolated were sensitive to penicillin but resistant to sulphonamides. Most of the infections (54%) were caused by serogroup B strains. Clinical features included fever (98%), vomiting (65%), and headache (60%). Purpura appeared in 95% and severe neurological features in 25%. Most patients (83%) were children less than 10 years old. The incidence was 1.4/100,000 in the non-Jewish population and 2.3/100,000 in the Jewish population. The overall mortality was 23%, but about 50% in the Jewish population (10 deaths in 18 cases). In kibbutzim the incidence (7.5/100,000) and mortality were especially high. The need for awareness of the disease and the importance of early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are emphasized.
Greif
Z
Z
Pediatric Dept., Western Galilee Regional Hospital, Nahariya.
Schiab
S
S
Leitner
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies