Intrafamilial meningococcal meningitis.
Two couples of sibs presented with meningococcal meningitis. In both families, immediate preventive measures were not taken due to a negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) smear in the first case from Family A, and a negative CSF smear and culture in the first case from Family B. All the children were treated successfully. Our recommendations are: a) contacts of patients with pyogenic meningitis should have close clinical surveillance, and b) contacts of meningococcal infection should have nasopharyngeal cultures and should be given a prophylactic antibiotic such as rifampicin or minocycline.
D000293:Adolescent; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008911:Minocycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D008911:Minocycline; D012293:Rifampin