Spinal cord involvement in acute bacterial meningitis.

A 25-month-old boy had the development of respiratory arrest and quadriplegia with a T-10 sensory level during the acute phase of Haemophilus influenzae meningitis. The sequelae of spinal cord involvement of bacterial meningitis are reviewed. A possible mechanism of the spinal cord involvement in this case is discussed with reference to known pathology of H influenzae meningitis.