Acute bacterial meningitis in childhood. Incidence and mortality in a defined population

Lancet. 1976 Jan 3;1(7949):28-31. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(76)92921-4.

Abstract

Cases of acute bacterial (excluding tuberculous) meningitis and meningococcal infection, occurring in children under 10 years of age in the North-West Metropolitan region between 1969 and 1973 have been studied retrospectively by case-note review. The risk of having an acute meningococcal infection was estimated to be 1 in 1090, and that of having an attack of haemophilus meningitis to be 1 in 1500, but the age of 10 years. The case-fatality rates for meningococcal infection, haemophilus meningitis, and pneumococcal meningitis were 10.9%, 5.7%, and 16.4% respectively. Meningitis was not diagnosed in life in 26 of 94 fatal cases (28%).

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • England
  • Female
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Meningitis / epidemiology*
  • Meningitis, Haemophilus / epidemiology
  • Meningitis, Haemophilus / mortality
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / epidemiology
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / mortality
  • Meningitis, Pneumococcal / epidemiology
  • Meningitis, Pneumococcal / mortality
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Wales