Bacterial meningitis in childhood: a 13 year review.

One hundred and forty-five episodes of acute bacterial meningitis in children seen over a 13 year period are reviewed. The mortality rate was 1.4%. Over the study period H influenzae type b remained as the dominant causative organism, with 11% of the isolates being beta-lactamase positive. The difficulties in diagnosis in children, the sequelae of sensorineural deafness and continued morbidity in this disorder are stressed.