Clinical Study on Neonatal Meningitis

Kim, Kyo Sun; Lee, Kee Young; Kim, Kir Young; Yun, Duk Jin

Abstract

A clinical study was made on 58 cases of neonatal meningitis occuring under the age of 1 month in the department of Pediatrics at Severance Hospital, yonsei University College of Medicine, from Jan. 1, 1965 to Dec. 31, 1978. 1. The sex ratio of male and female was approximately 1.8:1. 2. Neonatal predisposing factors significantly associated with meningitis were omphalitis(14 cases), skin infection (11 cases), birth injury (9 cases), pneumonia(8 cases), etc. Most common maternal predisposing factors were difficult labor (12 cases). 3. In 25 out of the 58 cases cultered, the most common organism was E. coli(32%), next common Staphylococcus coagulase(+) (24%), followed by beta-Streptococcus (16%). 4. The most common presenting symptoms were nonspecific in nature-a elevated or subnormal temperature, poor feeding, irritability, jaundice and vomiting in order of frequency. 5. The presence of poor moro reflex, neck stiffness, unconsciousness, or convulsion correlated significantly with the high mortality rate. 6. Complications included subdural effusion(8 cases), convulsion(6 cases), Candida infection (6 cases), hydrocphalus(2 cases), and cerebral hemorrhage (2 cases) in order of frequency. 7. In the 58 cases there were 25 mortalities, or 43.1%.