[Recurrent purulent meningitis in traumatic lesions of the ethmoid (author's transl)].

A report is presented of two cases of recurrent meningitis (mainly pneumococcal meningitis with different serotypes). The different possible causes of recurrent meningitis are discussed. The key to diagnosis in recurrent meningitis caused by forgotten traumatic fracture of the ethmoid bone is X-ray investigation including tomography of this region. The prognosis is poor in infancy, but improves with increasing age of the child and is dependent on early diagnosis of the underlying causative process.