[Pneumococcal meningitis from 1974 to 1984].

We examined a group of 22 patients presented with the acute infective meningeal syndrome. Lumbar punction confirmed diagnosed purulent meningitis--meningoencephalitis, and bacteriologic liquor culture identified Streptococcus pneumoniae as a cause of the disease. Patients were mostly aged over 30. Clinical picture revealed signs of general infection and the meningeal syndrome. The severity of the disease was assessed on the basis of apparent signs of general infection, state of consciousness and endotoxic shock symptoms. Severe consciousness disorders were present in 16 (72.72%) patients. In our patients possible pneumococcus infection foci were: sinusitis, otitis media, pneumonia, mastoiditis and adnexitis. Lethal outcome occurred in 5 (22.72%) patients. In the therapy we used penicillin, chloramphenicol and ampicillin along with corticosteroid administration.