Acute bacterial meningitis in Enugu, Nigeria. 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1993.

A total of 84 cases of meningitis confirmed by isolation of the organisms at the University of Nigeria Hospital (UNTH) Enugu, Nigeria between 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1993 are presented. The cases are analysed by diagnosis, seasonal distribution, age and sex distribution and age specific case fatality rate. The most common type of meningitis was pneumococcal meningitis 32 cases, followed by coliform meningitis 31 cases and meningococcal meningitis, six cases. Other bacterial causes of meningitis accounted for 15 cases. The majority of cases occurred in infants, followed by children, with all cases occurring sporadically. Mortality was high with Streptococcus pneumoniae having the highest case fatality rate of 28.13 pc followed by coliforms, 25.78 pc. Fifty pc of the patients had pre-medication before presentation at the hospital, and many of the patients could not receive appropriate therapy because they were unable to afford the cost of the drugs. This probably contributed to the high mortality.