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Archives of Disease in Childhood 1990;65:495-498; doi:10.1136/adc.65.5.495
Copyright © 1990 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Changes in bacterial meningitis.

P E Carter, S M Barclay, W H Galloway, G F Cole

Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, Foresterhill.

In 1964, one of us (WHG) undertook a retrospective study of bacterial meningitis in childhood in the north east of Scotland during the period 1946-61. We have recently carried out a similar review of cases occurring during 1971-86, to compare the incidence, mortality, and bacteriological patterns. During the earlier period 285 cases occurred, a total incidence of 16.9/100,000 children per year. In the later period 274 children were affected, an annual incidence of 17.8/100,000. The overall mortality rate fell dramatically from 11.9% to 1.8%, the latter figure comparing favourably with recent published studies from Scandinavia and the United States. There was a change in the bacteriological profile in the second period with a significant rise in cases due to Haemophilus influenzae at all ages. A fall in cases of meningococcal meningitis was significant in infants under 1 year of age only. Possible reasons for the change in the bacteriological pattern are discussed.


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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Haase, M. R. (2004). Acute Bacterial Meningitis in Children. Journal of Pharmacy Practice 17: 392-406 [Abstract]  

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