title: Changes in bacterial meningitis.
abstract: In 1964, one of us (WHG) undertook a retrospective study of bacterial meningitis in childhood in the north east of Scotland during the period 1946-61. We have recently carried out a similar review of cases occurring during 1971-86, to compare the incidence, mortality, and bacteriological patterns. During the earlier period 285 cases occurred, a total incidence of 16.9/100,000 children per year. In the later period 274 children were affected, an annual incidence of 17.8/100,000. The overall mortality rate fell dramatically from 11.9% to 1.8%, the latter figure comparing favourably with recent published studies from Scandinavia and the United States. There was a change in the bacteriological profile in the second period with a significant rise in cases due to Haemophilus influenzae at all ages. A fall in cases of meningococcal meningitis was significant in infants under 1 year of age only. Possible reasons for the change in the bacteriological pattern are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, Foresterhill.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Barclay
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Galloway
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Cole
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008581:Meningitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000453:epidemiology; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology