Meningitis in Children - I.V. Bohadelnikov 2005

Secondary purulent meningitis in children. General data

Secondary Purulent meningitis in children usually develops as a complication of a pre-existing septic condition or disease, or as a complication of ENT disorders.

The most common causative agents of secondary purulent meningitis are staphylococci, streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and leptospires. Other bacterial pathogens account for no more than 0.4–2% of all cases. Meningitis caused by Fungi, Protozoa, or helminths is a rare pathology. In newborns, THE SPECTRUM OF pathogens responsible for secondary purulent meningitis is somewhat broader. They frequently present with meningitis caused by Escherichia coli, salmonella, Proteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococcus, Klebsiella, and streptococcus.

Secondary purulent meningitis has an acute, sometimes subacute onset, and can manifest in both typical and atypical forms. In secondary meningitis, infection spreads to the Meninges via hematogenous or lymphogenous routes from primary inflammatory foci (such as enterocolitis, Osteomyelitis, dental caries, otitis media, Pneumonia, abscess, suppurated cephalhematoma, etc.), or directly through contact with the meninges in open TRAUMATIC Brain INJURIES, purulent otitis media, epitympanitis, or mastoiditis. Intrauterine infection of the fetus by septic group microbes—such as Escherichia coli, Proteus, streptococcus, or staphylococcus—is also possible. In this case, the pathogen is transmitted transplacentally from an infected mother with latent foci of infection, via Amniotic Fluid, or through direct contact of the fetus with infected birth canals during delivery.