Childhood bacterial meningitis in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

During the six-year period 1982 to 1987, 49 of 5454 children (0.89%) admitted to the pediatric medical ward of the Armed Forces Hospital in Tabuk were treated for bacterial meningitis. Ninety percent were younger than 24 months. The causative organisms isolated were Hemophilus influenzae type B (55%), H. influenzae (2%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (18%), and Neisseria meningitidis (2%). Cerebrospinal fluid cultured showed no organisms in 22% of the patients. Eighty-nine percent of the children with H. influenzae type B meningitis were younger than 24 months. Forty-five percent of the patients had had prior antibiotic treatment. Eleven percent of the cases of H. influenzae type B meningitis were ampicillin resistant, and 7% were both ampicillin and chloramphenicol resistant. The overall mortality was 14.3%. Survivors were followed from a minimum of 4 months to a maximum of 96 months. Recurrent seizures and psychomotor retardation were found in 12% and sensorineural impairment in 2%.