The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2010 , Vol 52 , Num 4
Recurrent bacterial meningitis in children: our experience with 14 cases
Dr. Sami Ulus Children’s Health and Diseases Training and Research Center, Ankara, Turkey
Recurrent bacterial meningitis is an uncommon but life-threatening condition.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic, clinical, microbiological,
and radiological features of recurrent bacterial meningitis in children. Fourteen
patients (10 male, 4 female) treated for recurrent bacterial meningitis were
reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 87 months (range: 6 months
to 13 years). There were 67 episodes of meningitis documented in these 14
patients. Six patients had developmental anatomical defects, five had traumatic
anatomical defects and three had primary immune deficiency diseases as
predisposing conditions. We suggest that, in a case of recurrent meningitis,
a pediatrician should question and examine the patient carefully in search of
a possible anatomical defect or immunodeficiency. Vaccination and surgical
treatment of the anatomical defects may be important.
Keywords :
children, recurrent, meningitis.