All issues > Volume 13(4); 1970

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1970;13(4):201-208. Published online April 30, 1970.

A Clinical Observation on Purulent Meningitis in Infancy and Childhood

Sung Wook Choi¹, Yung Kul Chung¹, Hyo In Bae¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Pusan University Hosipital

Abstract

A clinical and statistical observation was done on 97 cases of purulent meningitis in infants and children admitted to Pusan University Hospital during 5 years period 1963~1967 inclusive. The seasonal peak of incidence was noted in spring. There was a predilection of purulent menigitis in infants under 1 year of age developing a higher mortality. Since 6 year of age, not only incidence but mortality were decreased significantly. Fever was the most frequent clinical symptom and vomiting, irritability, convulsion, unconciousness and headach were next common. The mort frequent neurological finding was neck stiffness and Kernig’s sign, bulgin fontanelle, Babinski’s sign and Brudzinskfs sign were next common. Cell count of C.S.F. before treatment was most frequent in 1000~5000/cmm (43%), protein value in 200~300 mg% (28. 9%), and sugar level in 3~10 mg% (48.5%). Pathogens were detected in 32 cases 133% by direct smear of C. S.F. and in 43 cases (44.3%) by culture. H. influenzae, pneumococci and meningococci were frequent than the other. Organism were cultured more frequently on untreated group 157.7% before admission than treated group (22.5%). Sensitivity test of pathogens to sulfonamide and antibiotics revealed that meningoccus was more sensitive to erythromycin and terramycin, H. influenza to chloramphenical and streptomycin, and pneumococcus to erythromycin, penicilline and terramycin than the other.

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