Pyogenic meningitis among Lagos children: causative organisms, age, sex and seasonal incidence
Babalola, A.A.; Coker, A.O.
Central African Journal of Medicine 28(1): 14-18
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-9176 PMID: 7083315 Document Number: 183761
Streptococcus pneumoniae (38.9%). Haemophilus influenzae (28.0%), Neisseria meningitidis (16.0%) and the coliforms (12.5%) were most prevalent organisms causing pyogenic meningitis in Lagos children. S. pneumoniae was a major cause of meningitis in all the pediatric age groups considered, H. influenzae was not isolated in children > 5 yr of age and had a peak incidence in the age range 6 mo.-2 yr. N. meningitidis was the major cause of meningitis in the age range 5-10 yr, accounting for 68.4% of all isolates in this age group. Escherichia coli and the other coliforms accounted for 75% of the isolates made in the neonatal period. More males than females had meningitis caused by each of the 4 main bacterial agents identified above. More cases of confirmed pyogenic meningitis occurred in the dry season than during the rainy season. S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae exhibited similar monthly distribution with peak incidences during the cold rainy months (July-Sept.) and the cold months (Jan./Feb.) of the dry season. N. meningitidis and the coliforms exhibited a low incidence during the harmattan period of the dry season; the harmattan had an enhanced effect on the incidence of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae.