PMID: 16642734Apr 29, 2006Paper

Clinical spectrum of meningococcal infection in infants younger than six months of age

Chang Gung Medical Journal
Hsuan-Rong HuangShih-Ming Chu

Abstract

Neisseria meningitidis is one of the most significant bacterial infections in children and adolescents. As transplacental antibodies in the circulation gradually decline, the prevalence of meningococcal disease among young infants is high, and often presents an invasive clinical manifestation. The purpose of the study was to investigate the clinical spectrum of meningococcal infection in young infants. We retrospectively reviewed of the medical charts and analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 10 infants younger than 6 months old with meningococcal disease at the Chang Gung Children's Hospital from 1994 through 2004. A total of 10 male infants with a mean onset age of 2.9 +/- 1.79 months old were enrolled. All patients presented initial symptoms of fever and decreased activity. Seizure attack was noted in six cases, and only three patients had purpuric or petechial rash. Laboratory findings reflected pyogenic infection including elevated C-reactive protein (159.1 +/- 108.8 mg/L), pleocytosis (791.11 +/- 660.83/microL), high protein levels (190.43 +/- 157.91 g/dl) and hypoglycorrhachia (28 +/- 20.89 mg/dl) in the cerebrospinal fluid. Seven cases presented meningitis; among those, N. meningitidis was isolated from ...Continue Reading

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