Epidemiological and Clinical Study of Bacterial Meningitis in Menoufia Governorate

Objectives and Background: Bacterial meningitis in children is associated with substantial excess risk of intellectual, cognitive, and auditory impairment that persists into adolescence. Continuing developmental problems of higher order language, organisation, problem solving, and central auditory function may increase learning and behavioral difficulties. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical, laboratory and epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in Menoufia Governorate Fever Hospitals. Patients and Methods: we prospectively studied the data of 279 pediatric cases suspected to have meningitis and admitted to Menoufia Governorate fever hospitals (13 0 infants up to one year, 64 preschool age children and 85 school age children). We constructed a standardized data collection questionnaire to collect basic data, then we collected samples from blood, ceprospinal fluid (CSF) from all 279 cases to culture and isolate the organism causing meningitis after gram staining of the CSF. Results: The study showed that the prevalence of Pneumococci is significantly higher among school aged group than other groups 30/85 (35.3%), while H. influenzae was the leading cause below one year age 14/130 (10.8%). Conclusion: We found that the three major pathogens accounting for (95.7%) of bacterial meningitis in Menoufia Governorate were Streptococcal pneumonia (S. pneumonia). In infants less than 1 year, H. influenzae was the most common etiologic agent.