A10- Year Survey of Bacterial Meningitis in Pediatric Patients Admitted to Children's Medical Center

Bacterial meningitis is one the most severe and complicated pediatric diseases with high mortality and morbidity. The aim of the present study was to study the prevalence treatment outcome and to identify type the bacteria involved.In this retrospective study 123 hospitalized patients with suspected bacterial meningitis in ten years (1393-2003)were studied. Based on clinical and laboratory data, finally 85 patients recognized as bacterial meningitis. All the laboratory works including measurement of CSF sugar, protein and `differential cell count, gram-stain of CSF, blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures was done. The results showed that the implicated bacteria in 40 cases with Streptococcus pneumoniae (47.1%),Haemophilus influenzae type b in 22 cases (25.9%), Neisseria meningitides in 13 cases (15.3%), Escherichia coli in 4 cases (4.7%),), Klebsiella species in 3 cases (3.5%),Enterobacter, group B Streptococci and Streptococci viridians in one case each (3.5%). Complications and mortality in young infants under two months of age was high. The neurological complications in children above two months, in descending order, were: hearing loss, hydrocephaly, seizures,mental retardation, ataxia and hemiparesis. In patients under 2 months of age Gram-negative bacilli was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis, above this age streptococcus pneumoniae was more frequent. The neurological complications were decreased after passing of time, therefore early diagnosis and treatment yield better outcome in our patients