Clinical manifestations and course of meningococcal disease in 562 patients.
To describe the clinical manifestations and course of meningococcal disease (MD) data were collected on patients with culture-proven MD, reported in the Netherlands between April 1, 1989 and April 30, 1990 by means of a questionnaire completed by the specialist in attendance. During the study period, 562 patients (295 males, 267 females) were reported. The age of the patients ranged from 2 weeks to 88 years. Of the patients, 57.8% were classified as meningitic, 20.3% as bacteraemic and 21.9% as both meningitic and bacteraemic. In 4.6% of the patients a predisposing factor was present, and in 1.4% a previous episode of meningitis had occurred. A positive family history of meningitis was reported in 12.9% of the patients. On admission, 65.2% of the patients had haemorrhagic skin lesions, 7.9% coma and 4.2% seizures. During admission, 17.8% of the patients developed serious complications. The fatality rate was 7.7%. In 73.2% of the deceased, death occurred within 2 days after admission. Of the survivors, 8.5% recovered with serious sequelae. In conclusion, 16% of the patients with meningococcal disease either died or became severely disabled. Prevention of this putative life-threatening disease seems to be the only means of circumventing the problems caused by this serious condition.
Schildkamp
R L
RL
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Lodder
M C
MC
Bijlmer
H A
HA
Dankert
J
J
Scholten
R J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged