[A retrospective clinical study on pneumococcal meningitis in 0- to 1-year-old infants hospitalized in 1987-1996 in the Infectious Disease Clinic, Iaşi].

During a period of ten years (1987-1996) in Iaşi Infections Diseases Hospital, were observed 19 children, 0-1 year, with pneumococcal meningitis. This disease represented one important cause of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries. Clinical symptoms in these cases were very serious, including: fever, headache, vomiting, altered sensorium, seizures etc. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis confirmed the diagnosis, after showing purulent, turbid fluid. The germ was isolated in 100% of the cases through direct examination and culture of cerebrospinal fluid. They were treated with penicillin and chloramphenicol (55%) and ampicillin and chloramphenicol. The mortality was 52%. This study concludes that delay in diagnosis, virulence of germ, prematurity and hypertrophy were elements of a bad prognosis.