title: [Childhood meningitis].
abstract: Early and reliable diagnosis, prompt and adequate treatment, and intensive monitoring are the mainstays for normal outcome of patients with meningitis. Major progress has been achieved during the last 5-10 years. The successful implementation of the active immunization against Haemophilus influenzae type b has dramatically changed the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis: total incidence has been cut in half and approximately half of the cases now occur in adults. Important new insights into the pathogenesis and the pathophysiology have been gained resulting in specific supportive and antiinflammatory measures. Emergence of antibiotic-resistance in meningitis pathogens have lead to modified antimicrobial therapies. Knowledge about factors associated with a poor prognosis is important in selecting patients for more intensive surveillance and treatment, and in identifying candidates for new preventive or therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Kinderspital beider Basel.
authors.forename: U B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Schaad
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008581:Meningitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents
vernacular_title: Meningitis im Kindesalter.