Epidemiology of meningococcal infections in children in mid-southern part of Turkey.
59 patients were treated for meningococcal infections in Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 50.8% of patients were male, 33.9% were under two years of age and 61% were under five. 78% of patients were admitted to hospital in winter and spring time. Meningococcal meningitis (MM) was present in 39% of patients on admission, however, meningococcemia in 27.1% and meningococcemia and meningococcic meningitis (Meningococcemia + MM) in 33.9%. Fatality rate was 18.6% and no association was found between mortality and clinical type of disease (p > 0.05), but mortality ratio decreased with an increasing age (p < 0.01). No deaths occurred among the 12 patients who received i.v. penicillin treatment shortly before admitting to hospital, on the other hand 11 of 47 patients (23.4%) without such a previous treatment died.
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
E
E
Alhan
N
N
Bozdemir
B
B
Yüksel
N
N
Onenli
E
E
Kocabaş
N
N
Aksaray
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D010406:Penicillins; D010400:Penicillin G