Meningococcal group Y disease in children.
Neisseria meningitidis Group Y has been considered to be an uncommon pathogen in children. We reviewed the cases of Group Y meningococcal disease in children managed at our institution from 1974 through 1982. Twenty-four percent (6 of 25 cases) of the meningococcal disease in children between 5 and 20 years of age was caused by N. meningitidis Group Y. This serogroup of meningococcus was not isolated from children younger than 5 years of age. Meningococcemia characterized by purpura fulminans was the most common presentation. Pneumonia, a common presentation of Group Y meningococcal disease in military recruits, was not observed. Group Y meningococcal disease had emerged as a cause of meningococcemia and meningitis in older children and adolescents.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011693:Purpura / Q000209:etiology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology*
D010406:Penicillins