title: Group A streptococcal meningitis: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Group A streptococcus is an uncommon cause of meningitis in children. We report a single case of Group A streptococcus meningitis, in an apparently healthy 6-week-old infant. Twenty-five cases in the English-language literature in the last 25 years and our case are reviewed. The commonest associated illness was otitis media. Of the 25 patients, 24 survived. Antibiotic therapy, which consisted of penicillin in the majority of patients, was effective. Ceftriaxone was an alternative agent. Neurological sequelae were not uncommon. This report emphasizes the fact that Group A streptococcus can cause meningitis in healthy children without apparent recognizable foci of infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, 5th Floor, Sandringham Building, University Hospitals of Leicester, Infirmary Road, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK. sunil_perera@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Nelun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abulhoul
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: R Andrew
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Swann
mesh_terms: D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000658:Amoxicillin; D002439:Cefotaxime