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- Douglas Swanson, MD*
- *University of Missouri, Kansas City; Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas City, MO.
AUTHOR DISCLOSURE
Dr Swanson has disclosed that he has a research grant from Pfizer. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device.
Educational Gaps
The epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in children is changing.
Routine neuroimaging is not necessary for the initial medical evaluation of children with suspected bacterial meningitis who do not have clinical signs of brain herniation.
Objectives
After completing this article, the reader should be able to:
Describe the causes, clinical manifestations, and general approach to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the different types of meningitis in children of various ages.
Understand the indications for neuroimaging, adjunctive corticosteroids, and repeat lumbar puncture in children with bacterial meningitis.
Recognize the complications and sequelae of bacterial meningitis in children.
Introduction
Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening infection of the central nervous system that requires immediate medical attention. Even with appropriate treatment, morbidity and mortality can be substantial. It is essential for clinicians to recognize the clinical signs and symptoms of meningitis and understand its management and prevention. The focus of this review is acute bacterial meningitis in children, including its causes in different age groups, epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and sequelae.
Etiology and Epidemiology
Acute Bacterial Meningitis
Acute bacterial meningitis has a relatively rapid onset of symptoms, and routine laboratory techniques can usually identify the pathogen. The most common causes have been Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), group B Streptococcus (GBS), and Listeria monocytogenes (Table 1). (1)(2)(3) These organisms caused more than 80% of acute bacterial meningitis in children during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1990, conjugate Hib vaccine was introduced. It has almost eliminated Hib meningitis in countries where it has been implemented and decreased the overall incidence of acute bacterial meningitis by 55%. Implementation of the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate …
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