Childhood bacterial meningitis in Kuwait

J Trop Med Hyg. 1990 Feb;93(1):7-11.

Abstract

A total of 110 cases of bacterial meningitis were studied over a 7-year period. The attack rate was 3.2/100,000 overall and 13/100,000 in children under 12 years. Haemophilus influenzae was the most common pathogen (44.3%), followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (20.9%) and Neisseria meningitidis (12.7%). The mean patient age was 2.7 years, but 44/49 cases of H. influenzae meningitis were in children under 2 years, an attack rate of 31/100,000. The mortality was 22.4% for neonates and 6.5% for other children, and was associated with coma at presentation and unusual microorganisms. Neurological sequelae were detected in 19% of surviving children.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Kuwait / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Haemophilus / complications
  • Meningitis, Haemophilus / epidemiology*
  • Meningitis, Haemophilus / mortality
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / epidemiology*
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / mortality
  • Meningitis, Pneumococcal / epidemiology*
  • Meningitis, Pneumococcal / mortality
  • Seasons