[Clinical-epidemiological assessment of bacterial meningitis in the province of Cordoba (1983-1989)].

533 cases of bacterial meningitis diagnosed in the province of Cordoba over a period of seven years are analyzed. 53.7% of the cases are in males, with 71.2% of the cases being detected in children under 14 (p less than 0.001). Greater incidence has been observed in Cordoba city than in the province, with a direct relationship being between morbidity and population density. The months with lower average temperature account for 45.6 por 100 of all the diagnosed cases of meningitis. By etiology, 51.9% were meningococcal meningitis, followed by meningitis produced by unknown germs (35.3%) and by H. influenzae. The illness developed in 91.3% of cases to a cure, with sequelae in 4.1% and death in 4.4%. Meningitis produced by H: influenzae was what caused most sequelae and that produced by S. pneumoniae was the most lethal. Isolated N. meningitidis presented 100% sensitivity to penicillin and cephalosporins, H. influenzae 91.7% chloramphenicol and only 28.3% to penicillin.